[Clinical study of effects of submaxillary transcutaneous electrical stimulation of genioglossus on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of submaxillary transcutaneous electric stimulation of genioglossus on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
Nineteen patients (male) with OSAS were diagnosed by polysomnography previously. Fixed the provocative locus of genioglossus and its controlling nerve with local anatomy. Estimated obstructive level of pharyngeal cavity by observing muller's maneuver under fiberolaryngoscope. Determined the effects of electric stimulation on different levels of narrow pharyngeal cavity with control study method.


RESULTS
The effect of electrical stimulation was different in different narrow level. The best effect was found on the obstruction of retrotongue-base-pharynx level, data of breath disorder (P < 0.05), oxygen saturation (P < 0.05) and clinical symptoms were significantly improved. The data were partly improved on multilevel obstructions of retrotongue-base-pharynx or above, no improvement was found on the obstruction of retrotongue-base-pharynx level. Dormant index was not worse.


CONCLUSIONS
Submaxillary electrical stimulation is effective to the treatment of OSAS and its curative effect perhaps has a close relationship with obstructive level of with upper-airway. Further research on the mechanism showed that stimulating upper-airway dilating muscle which formed mainly by genioglossus could push the tongue ahead and effectively open pharyngeal cavity. Maybe it is a reason that the best effect took place on the retrotongue-base-pharynx level. Sleep was not affected by electrical stimulation.
Yang
H
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Xingqiao Hospital, Third Millitary Medical University, Chongqing 400037.
Meng
X G
XG
Zhu
Y Z
YZ
Li
H
H
Deng
A C
AC
Shun
L Y
LY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation