title: The influence of obturators on the respiration of patients with maxillary defects: a clinical study.
abstract: The study evaluated the effects of obturators on respiratory function by analyzing the changes in nasal anatomic structures and physiologic function in maxillectomy patients with and without obturators. Twenty-six patients who underwent maxillectomy were chosen and rehabilitated with obturators by a single maxillofacial prosthodontist. The geometric shape of the nasal cavity, the nasal airway resistance, and the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC) were evaluated using acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and a pulmonary function test apparatus, respectively. All patients were tested twice, with and without their obturators. The results were statistically analyzed with a paired t-test. The nasal cavities (0-7 cm to the anterior nostril) of the patients with obturators had a significantly smaller volume ([-8.92, -0.60], P = 0.027), smaller effective nasal cross-sectional area MCA2 ([-3.80, -1,81], P < 0.0001), increased airflow in the nasal cavity ([17.76, 147.39], P = 0.015), reduced nasal airway resistance ([-0.11, -0.02], P = 0.009), and reduced RV/TLC ([-5.32, -1.30], P = 0.004) compared with the patients without obturators. According to the results of this study, obturators can improve respiratory function by effectively decreasing the volume of enlarged nasal cavities as well as the nasal air resistance and volume of anatomical dead space after maxillectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Prosthodontics, Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences, 279 Zhou Zhu Gong Road, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Chenyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Prosthodontics, Branch Hospital of Shanghai Stomatological Disease Center, 1258 Middle Fuxing Road, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance; D003762:Dental Instruments; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology; D011312:Pressure; D012119:Respiration; D055815:Young Adult