title: [Usefulness of the basic exploration of the upper airways and neighbor structures in patients with adult obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a prevalent disease in the general population, associated with an increase in the cardiovascular morbimortality. A basic and/or standardized otolaryngologic exploration could help us to detect the structural abnormalities that alter the upper airway collapsibility and offer a high pre-test risk factor, improve the CPAP adherence or even the possibility of offering alternative treatments. This article offers a revision of the exploration in OSAHS patients. We describe a guideline to identify the main structural abnormalities related to OSAHS. We also include a short algorithm for the diagnosis of OSAHS, when is suspected by primary care physicians.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Multidisciplinar del Sueño, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, España; Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: doctorferre@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.affiliation: Unidad Multidisciplinar del Sueño, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, España; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiología, Fundació Hospital de Mollet, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arcalís
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Apnea del sueño; Exploración; Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome; Physical exploration; Sleep apnea; Síndrome apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño