scholarly journals Assessment of tongue mechanical properties using different contraction tasks

2017 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yang Li ◽  
Simon Gakwaya ◽  
Didier Saey ◽  
Frédéric Sériès

Inadequate upper airway (UA) dilator muscle function may play an important role in the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To date, tongue mechanical properties have been assessed mainly using protrusion protocol with conflicting results. Performance during elevation tasks among patients with OSA remains unknown. This study aimed at assessing tongue muscle strength, strength stability, endurance time, fatigue indices, and total muscle work, using elevation and protrusion tasks with repetitive isometric fatiguing contractions in 12 normal plus mild, 17 moderate, and 11 severe patients with OSA, and to assess the influence of body mass index (BMI) and age. Endurance time was longer in protrusion than elevation task ( P = 0.01). In both tasks, endurance time was negatively correlated with baseline value of strength coefficient of variation ( P < 0.01). Compared with other groups, patients with moderate OSA had the lowest total muscle work for protrusion ( P = 0.01) and shortest endurance time ( P = 0.04), regardless of the type of task. Additionally, in patients with moderate-severe OSA, the total muscle work for both tasks was lower in nonobese compared with obese ( P < 0.05). Total muscle work for protrusion was positively correlated with apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in obese subjects ( P < 0.01). Endurance time was shorter ( P < 0.01) and recovery time longer ( P = 0.02) in the old compared with young subjects. In conclusion, the tongue is more prone to fatigue during the elevation task and in patients with moderate OSA. Obesity appeared to prevent alteration of tongue mechanical properties in patients with OSA. Baseline strength stability and endurance were related, illustrating the role of central neuromuscular output in tongue resistance to fatigue.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess and compare tongue function using both elevation and protrusion tasks with repetitive isometric fatiguing contractions in subjects with different OSA status. Tongue mechanical performance seemed to differ between protrusion and elevation tasks and depend on the severity of OSA.

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A216-A216
Author(s):  
W Li ◽  
S Gakwaya ◽  
F Sériès

Abstract Introduction Soft palate muscles are crucial in the maintenance of UA patency. Different contraction tasks have been used to investigate tongue mechanical properties, but not to soft palate muscles. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical consequences of tongue and soft palate muscles fatigue in moderate-severe OSA patients. Methods 12 moderate and 8 severe patients with OSA were enrolled. Measurements include strength, endurance, and fatigue indices. During the soft palate fatiguing protocol, subjects were asked to develop repetitive intra-oral positive pressure during cheek-bulging maneuvers while wearing a mouth piece to keep the jaw opened. Tongue mechanical properties were also assessed using protrusion tasks with similar protocol. Subjects were encouraged to develop sustained maximal bulging pressure or tongue protrusion force for 5 sec every 10 sec until the peak pressure did not reach 85% of baseline maximal pressure for 2 consecutive times. The influence of age and BMI were also investigated. Results The sex, age were not significantly different between the 2 OSA groups. BMI was significantly higher in severe OSA patients (p&lt;0.05). Overall, the tongue maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC), endurance time and total muscle work were respectively positively associated with the ones obtained from the soft palate fatiguing task (rs=0.51, 0.43, 0.66, respectively). The MVC of both tongue and soft palate muscles were positively correlated with BMI in all subjects (rs=0.43, 0.5 respectively). The recovery time from soft palate fatigue was significantly longer in moderate than severe OSA patients (270s ± 192.3s and 120s ± 0, p =0.02). Interestingly, the recovery time was positively correlated with AHI in tongue fatiguing task, while negatively correlated with supine AHI and age in soft palate fatiguing task (p&lt;0.05). In both tasks, MVC was negatively correlated with the endurance time (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion Moderate patients are less likely to recover from soft palate muscle fatigue. A more severe apneic disease is associated with longer recovery time from tongue fatigue, but with shorter recovery time from soft palate fatigue. Our results suggest that alteration in tongue and velopharyngeal muscles function may differ according to the severity of disease. Support SBD from IUCPQ Foundation.


ORL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Lifeng Li ◽  
Demin Han ◽  
Hongrui Zang ◽  
Nyall R. London

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nasal surgery on airflow characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by comparing the alterations of airflow characteristics within the nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Thirty patients with OSA and nasal obstruction who underwent nasal surgery were enrolled. A pre- and postoperative 3-dimensional model was constructed, and alterations of airflow characteristics were assessed using the method of computational fluid dynamics. The other subjective and objective clinical indices were also assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> By comparison with the preoperative value, all postoperative subjective symptoms statistically improved (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), while the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) changed little (<i>p</i> = 0.492); the postoperative airflow velocity and pressure in both nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities, nasal and palatopharyngeal pressure differences, and total upper airway resistance statistically decreased (all <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01). A significant difference was derived for correlation between the alteration of simulation metrics with subjective improvements (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), except with the AHI (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Nasal surgery can decrease the total resistance of the upper airway and increase the nasal airflow volume and subjective sleep quality in patients with OSA and nasal obstruction. The altered airflow characteristics might contribute to the postoperative reduction of pharyngeal collapse in a subset of OSA patients.


Author(s):  
Goutham Mylavarapu ◽  
Ephraim Gutmark ◽  
Sally Shott ◽  
Robert J. Fleck ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud ◽  
...  

Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children requires knowledge of upper airway dynamics, including the closing pressure (Pcrit), a measure of airway collapsibility. We applied a Flow-Structure Interaction (FSI) computational model to estimate Pcrit in patient-specific upper airway models obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We sought to examine the agreement between measured and estimated Pcrit from FSI models in children with Down syndrome. We hypothesized that the estimated Pcrit would accurately reflect measured Pcrit during sleep and therefore reflect the severity of OSA as measured by the obstructive apnea hypopnea index (AHI). All participants (n=41) underwent polysomnography and sedated sleep MRI scans. We used Bland Altman Plots to examine the agreement between measured and estimated Pcrit. We determined associations between estimated Pcrit and OSA severity, as measured by AHI, using regression models. The agreement between passive and estimated Pcrit showed a fixed bias of -1.31 (CI=-2.78, 0.15) and a non-significant proportional bias. A weaker agreement with active Pcrit was observed. A model including AHI, gender, an interaction term for AHI and gender and neck circumference explained the largest variation (R2 = 0.61) in the relationship between AHI and estimated Pcrit. (P <0.0001). Overlap between the areas of the airway with lowest stiffness, and areas of collapse on dynamic MRI, was 77.4%±30% for the nasopharyngeal region and 78.6%±33% for the retroglossal region. The agreement between measured and estimated Pcrit and the significant association with AHI supports the validity of Pcrit estimates from the FSI model.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A171-A172
Author(s):  
Mohammed Jomha ◽  
Shalini Manchanda ◽  
Stephanie Stahl ◽  
Noah Parker

Abstract Introduction Insomnia and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are common sleep disorders that may impact obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated whether these comorbidities affect upper airway stimulation (UAS) therapy adherence and outcomes. This study aims to explore possible effects of insomnia and RLS in patients using UAS therapy. Methods All patients who underwent UAS system implantation for treatment of OSA at our facility were retrospectively studied. Pre- and post-implant histories and data, including diagnostic sleep testing, otolaryngology evaluation, activation results, and treatment evaluation, were analyzed. Patients with no insomnia or RLS were compared to patients with insomnia, RLS, or both. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and adherence were compared pre- and post-treatment for each group. Results Sixty-four patients who have undergone UAS implantation at our center have completed post-treatment in-lab titration and evaluation of their UAS system. Insomnia was present in 47%, RLS in 28%, and both insomnia and RLS in 14%. In all groups, the overall AHI during in-lab titration was &gt;50% lower than the pre-treatment AHI (16.1+/-14.3/h vs 32.5+/-13.1/h, p&lt;0.001). While the trend in AHI reductions suggested a lower AHI in those without insomnia or RLS, the reduction did not reach statistical significance (no insomnia or RLS 15.7+/-12.9/h, insomnia 16.9+/-16.7/h, RLS 19.0+/-15.5/h, both insomnia and RLS 23.4+/-18.4/h). UAS therapy usage was reduced in patients with RLS (3.9+/-2.6 h/night, p=0.029) and in patients with both insomnia and RLS (3.9+/-1.3 h/night, p=0.046) compared to patients with neither comorbidity (5.9+/-1.9 h/night). Mean reduction in ESS was similar across groups, averaging from 11+/-5 pre-treatment to 7+/-5 post-treatment (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion Insomnia and RLS are common in patients using UAS therapy for OSA. Pre- and post-treatment residual AHI and ESS significantly improved in all patient groups assessed. A decrease in UAS usage was present in patients with RLS and both RLS and insomnia. Our study suggests that identification and treatment of RLS and insomnia may play an important role for UAS therapy adherence and efficacy, thus, optimizing care. Support (if any):


Author(s):  
Kok Ren Choy ◽  
Sanghun Sin ◽  
Yubing Tong ◽  
Jayaram K. Udupa ◽  
Dirk M. Luchtenburg ◽  
...  

Novel biomarkers of upper airway biomechanics may improve diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Upper airway effective compliance (EC), the slope of cross-sectional area versus pressure estimated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), correlates with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and critical closing pressure (Pcrit). The study objectives are to develop a fast, simplified method for estimating EC using dynamic MRI and physiological measurements, and to explore the hypothesis that OSAS severity correlates with mechanical compliance during wakefulness and sleep. Five obese children with OSAS and five obese control subjects age 12-17 underwent anterior rhinomanometry, polysomnography and dynamic MRI with synchronized airflow measurement during wakefulness and sleep. Airway cross-section in retropalatal and retroglossal section images was segmented using a novel semi-automated method that uses optimized singular-value decomposition (SVD) image filtering and k-means clustering combined with morphological operations. Pressure was estimated using rhinomanometry Rohrer coefficients and flow rate, and EC calculated from the area-pressure slope during five normal breaths. Correlations between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), EC, and cross-sectional area (CSA) change were calculated using Spearman rank correlation. The semi-automated method efficiently segmented the airway with average Dice Coefficient above 89% compared to expert manual segmentation. AHI correlated positively with EC at the retroglossal site during sleep (rs=0.74, p=0.014), and with change of EC from wake to sleep at the retroglossal site (rs=0.77, p=0.01). CSA change alone did not correlate significantly with AHI. EC, a mechanical biomarker which includes both CSA change and pressure variation, is a potential diagnostic biomarker for studying and managing OSAS.


SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal M Osman ◽  
Benjamin K Tong ◽  
Shane A Landry ◽  
Bradley A Edwards ◽  
Simon A Joosten ◽  
...  

Abstract Study Objectives Quantification of upper airway collapsibility in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could help inform targeted therapy decisions. However, current techniques are clinically impractical. The primary aim of this study was to assess if a simple, novel technique could be implemented as part of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration study to assess pharyngeal collapsibility. Methods A total of 35 participants (15 female) with OSA (mean ± SD apnea–hypopnea index = 35 ± 19 events/h) were studied. Participants first completed a simple clinical intervention during a routine CPAP titration, where CPAP was transiently turned off from the therapeutic pressure for ≤5 breaths/efforts on ≥5 occasions during stable non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep for quantitative assessment of airflow responses (%peak inspiratory flow [PIF] from preceding 5 breaths). Participants then underwent an overnight physiology study to determine the pharyngeal critical closing pressure (Pcrit) and repeat transient drops to zero CPAP to assess airflow response reproducibility. Results Mean PIF of breaths 3–5 during zero CPAP on the simple clinical intervention versus the physiology night were similar (34 ± 29% vs. 28 ± 30% on therapeutic CPAP, p = 0.2; range 0%–90% vs. 0%–95%). Pcrit was −1.0 ± 2.5 cmH2O (range −6 to 5 cmH2O). Mean PIF during zero CPAP on the simple clinical intervention and the physiology night correlated with Pcrit (r = −0.7 and −0.9, respectively, p &lt; 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated significant diagnostic utility for the simple intervention to predict Pcrit &lt; −2 and &lt; 0 cmH2O (AUC = 0.81 and 0.92), respectively. Conclusions A simple CPAP intervention can successfully discriminate between patients with and without mild to moderately collapsible pharyngeal airways. This scalable approach may help select individuals most likely to respond to non-CPAP therapies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 442-447
Author(s):  
Adil Doğan ◽  
Nuray Bayar Muluk ◽  
Hamza Şahin

Objectives: We evaluated olfactory functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The cranial magnetic resonance images of 58 adult patients (36 males and 22 females) aged 27 to 79 years were retrieved from the hospital picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system. There were 29 patients with OSA (17 males and 12 females), diagnosed according to the polysomnography results. A control group consisted of 29 healthy patients without OSA. Olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth measurements were performed. Nasal septal deviation (SD) was also evaluated and recorded as no SD, deviation to the right, and deviation to the left in all groups. Results: Olfactory bulb volumes of the OSA group were significantly lower than those of the control group ( P < .05), whereas OS depth values were not different ( P > .05). There was a positive correlation between the right and left OB volumes and right and left OS depth values ( P < .05). In older patients with OSA and in female patients with OSA, OB volumes decreased bilaterally ( P < .05). Olfactory sulcus depth of the right side was lower in the female patients with OSA compared to the male patients with OSA ( P < .05). There were no significant correlations between apnea–hypopnea index and OB volumes and OS depth values in the OSA group ( P > .05) Conclusion: In patients with OSA, OB volumes decreased bilaterally. It may be related to intermittent nocturnal hypoxia/reoxygenation episodes, which may be a trigger for upper airway inflammation; and proinflammatory mediators maybe harmful on olfactory neuroepithelium and olfactory impairment may occur.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Espinoza-Cuadros ◽  
Rubén Fernández-Pozo ◽  
Doroteo T. Toledano ◽  
José D. Alcázar-Ramírez ◽  
Eduardo López-Gonzalo ◽  
...  

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by recurring breathing pauses during sleep caused by a blockage of the upper airway (UA). OSA is generally diagnosed through a costly procedure requiring an overnight stay of the patient at the hospital. This has led to proposing less costly procedures based on the analysis of patients’ facial images and voice recordings to help in OSA detection and severity assessment. In this paper we investigate the use of both image and speech processing to estimate the apnea-hypopnea index, AHI (which describes the severity of the condition), over a population of 285 male Spanish subjects suspected to suffer from OSA and referred to a Sleep Disorders Unit. Photographs and voice recordings were collected in a supervised but not highly controlled way trying to test a scenario close to an OSA assessment application running on a mobile device (i.e., smartphones or tablets). Spectral information in speech utterances is modeled by a state-of-the-art low-dimensional acoustic representation, called i-vector. A set of local craniofacial features related to OSA are extracted from images after detecting facial landmarks using Active Appearance Models (AAMs). Support vector regression (SVR) is applied on facial features and i-vectors to estimate the AHI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
pp. e107-e111 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Antonio Pinto ◽  
Luciana Balester Mello de Godoy ◽  
Heloisa dos Santos Sobreira Nunes ◽  
Kelly Elia Abdo ◽  
Gabriella Spinola Jahic ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a multifactorial disease characterized by episodes of partial or complete collapse during sleep of different regions of the upper airway. Surgery for OSAS evolved with the introduction of different techniques, considering new surgical concept of reconstruction of the upper airway. Objective To retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of a new approach aimed at reducing pharyngeal collapse by combining two surgical techniques: lateral and expansion pharyngoplasty. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 38 patients with OSAS undergoing lateral/expansion pharyngoplasty from January 2012 to December 2016. The following data were collected: patient age, gender, and pre- and postoperative body mass index (BMI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) scores, snoring visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and polysomnography (PSG) results. Results The PSG results showed a significant reduction in the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) from 22.4 ± 27.3 events/h preoperatively to 13.6 ± 17.9 events/h postoperatively (p = 0.009), with postoperative AHI reduction greater than 50% in 63.2% of the patients. There was also a significant reduction in the microarousal index (19.5 ± 22.6 vs 11.0 ± 13.4 events/h; p = 0.001) and in the minimum oxygen saturation (82.6 ± 10.3 vs 86.9 ± 11.1; p = 0.007). Conclusions Lateral-expansion pharyngoplasty represents a new surgical strategy for the treatment of OSAS in patients with palatal collapse by combining two different techniques: lateral and expansion pharyngoplasty. The two techniques, performed as a one-stage procedure, led to improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, and PSG respiratory parameters by acting on lateral and retropalatal collapse, producing favorable results with good applicability in otolaryngology clinical practice.


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