The correlation between pharyngeal narrowing and the severity of sleep-disordered breathing

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the degree or shape of pharyngeal narrowing as observed during the Muller maneuver and the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 33 patients with SDB, and they underwent polysomnography (PSG). The degree of pharyngeal narrowing (grade I-IV) according to fiberoptic naso-pharyngoscopy with the Muller maneuver (FNMM) and the shape of pharyngeal narrowing were evaluated at different anatomical levels. These variables were compared with the total apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the Supine AHI, and the lateral AHI obtained by PSG. RESULTS: The retroglossal FNMM grades revealed significant correlation with total AHI (P = 0.030) and supine AM (P = 0.012). The retropalatal FNMM grades were significantly correlated with lateral AHI (P = 0.020). The lateral-narrowing type at the retropalatal level is more significantly associated with higher total AHI compared with the anteroposterior-narrowing type (P 0.010). CONCLUSION: The anatomic level and the degree of pharyngeal narrowing observed during FNMM revealed a correlation with the AHIs of different sleeping positions. (c) 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.