[The effects of body posture on upper airway in OSAHS patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of body posture on upper airway shapes in OSAHS patients.


METHODS
Thirty-one male OSAHS patients were included in the study. The fibre endoscopic photos were taken on palate and lingua region upper airway at normal breath at supine with 30 degree neck flexion, supine and right lateral recumbent position, respectively. The cross section area and the dimensions of palate and lingua region upper airway were studied by running image tools software in computer.


RESULTS
In OSAHS patients, there were obviously difference in the area and arrowy dimension of palate airway among three posture, and so to in area, arrowy and coronary dimension of lingua airway.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that the body posture changes have obviously influence on upper airway, and the influence is the base of apnea increasing at special posture.
Li
Shuhua
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Shenyang General Hospital of PLA, Shenyang, 110015, China.
Shi
Hongjin
H
Bao
Jimin
J
Dong
Weidong
W
Wang
Guiru
G
Yu
Jianhui
J
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011187:Posture; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*