Is there Weakness Area in Airway?

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ObstructiveSleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent collapse of the pharyngeal airway during sleep. In 2008, we have reported the relationship between Body mass index (BMI) and airway configuration. Maximum anterior-posterior diameter (AP) and lateral width (LW) of the cross-section airway were measured, and the square area (SA) was calculated. The airway cross-section area (AWA) was also measured, and then the AWA/SA ratio was calculated. The mean AWA/SA score was 11.2% smaller in OSA patients and this difference was statistically significant. From this result, the difference of airway configuration between non-OSA and OSA patients was quantitatively revealed.

Inthe qualitative observation, the airway of non-OSA was square or elliptical shape. On the other hand, the airway of OSA presented triangle shape, especially in the obese patients. From this finding, we hypothesized that there is structural weakness of airway in the bilateral posterior region. In this short report, to discover the weakness region in the airway, the airway configuration change under negative pressure was observed. Subject was 33 year-old, female, who had no OSA. She agreed with the purpose of this study, and signed. Her body mass index was 19kg/m2. This research was approved by the Ethical Committee at Tsurumi University Dental Hospital. The respiratory mask and the syringe were connected, and the pressure gage (AP-V40, Keyence Japan, Osaka) was set on the syringe.