Search

Clinical and radiographic characteristics of a subset of South East Asian temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with comorbid upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) were documented in a multi-center prospective series of 86 patients (26 men and 60 women / mean age 35.7 years). All had excessive daytime sleepiness, high arousal index and Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI)5. The mean body mass index was 20·1, mean arousal index 16·2, mean respiratory disturbance index 19·6, mean AHI 3·9 while the mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 14·8. Many had functional somatic complaints; 66·3% headaches, 41·9% neck aches, 53·5% masticatory muscle myalgia, 68·6% temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia while 90·7% reported sleep bruxism (SB). Unlike patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), hypertension was uncommon (4·7%) while depression was prevalent at 68·6% with short REM latency of90 min and an increased REM composition25% documented in 79·6% and 57·6% of these depressed patients, respectively. 65·1% displayed a posteriorly displaced condyle at maximum intercuspation with or without TMJ clicking. Most exhibited a forward head posture (FHP) characterised by loss of normal cervical lordosis (80·2%), C0-C1 narrowing (38·4%) or an elevated hyoid position (50%), and 91·9% had nasal congestion. We postulate the TMD-UARS phenotype may have originally developed as an adaptive response to 'awake' disordered breathing during growth. Patients with persistent TMD and/or reporting SB should be screened for UARS and chronic nasal obstruction, especially when they also present with FHP. The lateral cephalogram is a useful tool in the differentiation of UARS from other OSA phenotypes.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common chronic sensory-motor neurological disorder that remains a clinical diagnosis. Most RLS patients present with sleep complaints in the form of initiation and/or maintenance insomnia as RLS has a circadian rhythmicity. An increased number of periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) is a supportive criterion in the diagnosis of RLS. Abnormalities in the central dopaminergic and iron systems are involved in the physiopathology of RLS. There is a higher prevalence of RLS and PLMS in sleep-disordered breathing patients, particularly those with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the most common sleep disorder in western societies. The complex mechanisms underlying the association between OSA, RLS and PLMS remain unclear. Untreated OSA can lead to adverse cardiovascular consequences due to cardio-metabolic dysfunction. It remains controversial whether RLS could further adversely impact the cardiovascular consequences of OSA. The PLMS do not have an additive effect on the hypersomnia experienced by some sleep-disordered breathing patients. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective therapy for OSA. The presence of PLMS during CPAP treatment could be a marker of an incomplete resolution of sleep-disordered breathing in the form of increased upper airway resistance syndrome, despite treatment. Dopaminergic agonists are the preferred agent for the treatment of RLS, and are indicated when RLS symptoms are frequent and affect quality of life. PLMS and RLS do not seem to contribute to the residual hypersomnia that can be observed in some sleep-disordered breathing patients despite adequate compliance and effective CPAP therapy.

In-laboratory polysomnography is the 'gold standard' for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but is time consuming and costly, with long waiting lists in many sleep laboratories. Therefore, the search for alternative methods to detect respiratory events is growing. In this prospective study, we compared attended polysomnography with two other methods, with or without mandible movement automated analysis provided by a distance-meter and added to airflow and oxygen saturation analysis for the detection of respiratory events. The mandible movement automated analysis allows for the detection of salient mandible movement, which is a surrogate for arousal. All parameters were recorded simultaneously in 570 consecutive patients (M/F: 381/189; age: 50±14years; body mass index: 29±7kgm -2) visiting a sleep laboratory. The most frequent main diagnoses were: obstructive sleep apnea (344; 60%); insomnia/anxiety/depression (75; 13%); and upper airway resistance syndrome (25; 4%). The correlation between polysomnography and the method with mandible movement automated analysis was excellent (r: 0.95; P

Aims. This study aims to help nurses and nurse practitioners identify and manage paediatric patients with upper airway resistance syndrome. A review of upper airway resistance syndrome is provided, including the signs and symptoms of upper airway resistance syndrome, criteria for diagnosis, recommendations for treatment and implications for nursing in paediatric primary care. Background. Nurses often encounter sleep-related problems in the paediatric primary care setting. Commonly, these problems are well known and include snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Upper airway resistance syndrome is a relatively new diagnosis among sleep-related breathing disorders with which nurses and nurse practitioners should be familiar. Upper airway resistance syndrome is characterised by incomplete obstruction of the airway during sleep, leading to increased respiratory efforts and frequent arousals despite normal oxygen saturations. Design. Systematic review. Method. A review of the sleep literature identified articles regarding sleep and/or sleep-related breathing disorders and paediatrics, and upper airway resistance syndrome. Articles published since 2002 were prioritised; however, all articles describing upper airway resistance syndrome since 1993 were considered. Conclusion. Timely recognition of sleep-disordered breathing is crucial to ensuring that patients receive effective and appropriate treatment. Upper airway resistance syndrome should be a part of the differential diagnosis when assessing a child with a sleep-related breathing disorder. Relevance to clinician practice. Nurses and nurse practitioners should become comfortable and skilled in performing a thorough sleep history and physical examination to help identify when a child should receive a sleep study or referral to a specialist.

Objective The aim was to study the value of esophageal pressure monitoring combined with limited polygraphic recording (oxygen saturation, respiratory and leg movements, airflow, body position, and snoring sound) in diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing. Study Design A prospective study of consecutive patients with snoring was carried out. Methods Sixty-seven patients underwent an overnight study on ward. Patients with normal oxygen desaturation index and any periodic breathing disturbances combined with elevated esophageal pressure were further studied with complete polysomnography. Results The patient compliance with esophageal catheter was 87%. Esophageal pressure monitoring increased effectively the detection of sleep-disordered breathing with limited polygraphic recording. Sixty-seven percent of the patients with normal oxygen desaturation index and respiratory-related esophageal pressure variation had sleep-disordered breathing on complete polysomnography. Increased esophageal pressure variation was significantly related with oxygen desaturation index and obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis (P

Obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome (OSAHS) is an important public health problem. However, major gaps exist in our knowledge about the clinical features of this disorder in the pediatric age group. The purpose of this study was to examine clinical features of OSAHS diagnosed by polysomnography in otherwise healthy children. In this cross-sectional study, 326 children without underlying medical conditions (5.8+/-3.0 years, range 1-12 years; 56% male) were recruited from patients referred by primary care and otorhinolaryngology physicians for evaluation of snoring and difficulty breathing. Ethnic group distribution was African-American (38%), Caucasian (30%), and Hispanic (31%). Complaints of daytime tiredness or sleepiness were reported in 29% of the children. All children underwent overnight polysomnography (N = 330 studies). OSAHS was diagnosed in 59% of the children, based on polysomnographic criteria. The remaining children had either primary snoring (25%); no snoring (10%), or upper airway resistance syndrome (6%). Neither male gender nor obesity increased the likelihood for the diagnosis of OSAHS. However, the incidence of obesity in the study population (28%) was more than twice that of the general pediatric population. African-American children had a greater likelihood for OSAHS diagnosis compared to Hispanic or Caucasian children. Daytime complaints of sleepiness or tiredness were not more common in children diagnosed with OSAHS than in the children without OSAHS. As expected, tonsillar hypertrophy increased the likelihood of OSAHS diagnosis. In summary, many of the clinical features of childhood OSAHS are in marked contrast to those in adults.

The aim of this study was to identify factors other than objective sleep tendency associated with scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). There were 225 subjects, of whom 40% had obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), 16% had simple snoring, and 4.9% had snoring with sleep disruption (upper airway resistance syndrome); 9.3% had narcolepsy and 7.5% had hypersomnolence without REM sleep abnormalities; 12% had chronic fatigue syndrome; 7.5% had periodic limb movement disorder and 3% had diurnal rhythm disorders. ESS, the results of overnight polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and SCL-90 as a measure of psychological symptoms were recorded. The ESS score and the mean sleep latency (MSL) were correlated (Spearman rho = -0.30, P0.0001). The MSL was correlated with total sleep time (TST) and with sleep efficiency but not with apnoea/hypopnoea index. There was no association between the MSL and any aspect of SCL-90 scores, except a borderline significant association with the somatisation subscale. The ESS was correlated with TST but not with sleep efficiency or apnoea/hypopnoea index. The ESS was correlated with all subscales of the SCL-90 except psychoticism. An ESSor = 10 had poor sensitivity and specificity as a predictor of MSL10 min or MSL5 min. We conclude that the MSLT and the ESS are not interchangeable. The ESS was influenced by psychological factors by which the MSL was not affected. The ESS cannot be used to demonstrate or exclude sleepiness as it is measured by MSLT.

Patients with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) have clinical signs and symptoms of excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in the absence of obstructive sleep apnea. These patients have increased upper airway resistance, reflected by an elevated intrathoracic pressure measurement, despite a normal respiratory disturbance index (RDI). Physical findings often include excessive palatal tissue and narrowing of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Nine patients with UARS who received surgical treatment were prospectively evaluated. The four men and five women had signs of EDS, with or without snoring. The mean (+/- standard deviation) RDI was 2.1 (+/- 1.2), and the mean esophageal pressure recording during polysomnography was -36.7 (+/- 16.2) cm H2O. The Epworth sleepiness scale was used to quantify EDS. The preoperative score of 12.0 (+/- 6.6) decreased to 3.4 (+/- 1.9) (P = .001) after surgical treatment. A variety of procedures, all including some type of palatal surgery, were performed. No treatment complications occurred. The recognition of UARS and an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the progressive development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may facilitate the prompt identification and treatment of such patients. The pathophysiology of UARS and a preliminary report of its surgical treatment are discussed.

We report cases of four patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with frequent breathing-related electroencephalogram (EEG) arousals which led to excessive daytime sleepiness. In spite of a relatively low apnea hypopnea index (AHI), sleep was disrupted by frequent EEG arousals associated with respiratory effort as observed in upper airway resistance syndrome. The effects of sleep stage and sleep position on EEG arousals were also investigated. We consider that AHI alone is not a sufficient index to assess severity of OSAS, and it is very important to examine microarousals by the alteration of esophageal pressure in addition to the effect of sleep position.

More than 20% of the adult population snore without significant apnea. The impact of snoring itself on health is still debated whereas its social nuisance is well known. The upper airway resistance syndrome is sometimes hard to distinguish from simple or primary snoring with the standard polysomnographic techniques. As a result for physicians it is often difficult to decide on the real medical need for treatment. Yet patients with increased upper airway resistance can easily be detected now due to recently developed devices. There are several subjective and objective tools available for the assessment of snoring intensity. However, most of them are either expensive or not validated and thus may mislead doctor and patient before as well as after therapy. On the other hand, great efforts are being made to develop more accurate tools for the physician and surgeon so that snoring can be monitored and evaluated precisely. When the diagnosis and the intensity of simple snoring are assessed, one can choose among a vast number of conservative and surgical treatment options. A lot of them were introduced into the medical community over the last few years. Significant clinical data concerning efficacy are available for several palatal or nasal procedures and oral or nasal devices. Other therapies are not evaluated at all but are widespread among patients due to noisy advertising. The otorhinolaryngologist should know about all the different treatment possibilities, their indications, complications, and follow-up. The panel will discuss: the clinical significance of primary snoring and upper airway resistance syndrome; the different methods of subjective and objective assessment of snoring; the most promising conservative treatment options; and the morbidity and success rates of recent developments in surgical treatment.

SDB is a spectrum of disorders ranging from primary snoring through upper airway resistance syndrome to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Academy of Pediatrics recently published guidelines on the management of childhood OSA leading to an increase in awareness of the prevalence and potential morbidity of SDB. Consequently, more children are referred to otolaryngologists for evaluation of suspected SDB. Studies have shown that history and physical examination findings are poor predictors of SDB’s severity. However, the identification and correction of SDB is important since cognitve, behavioral, cardiovascular, and metabolic abnormalities are much higher in this group of children. Intervention can reverse these changes. Multiple dilemmas exist for otolaryngologists who evaluate children with SDB: (A) when does a snoring child have SDB? (B) who needs surgery? (C) when should you request a sleep study? (D) what does the sleep report mean? (E) what happens if nothing is done? And (F) do simple instruments exist to help predict which children will benefit from intervention? Our invited speaker is Dr David Gozal who is well known in the field of sleep medicine. His research interests include investigating the morbid consequences of SDB in children and the mechanisms underlying such morbidities. He is interested in answering the questions that all otoloaryngologists have: “Can we identify when we need to intervene, and how quickly, to prevent the long-term consequences we have demonstrated.” The other aspects of the symposium will cover: evaluation tools for SDB, the physical examination, and sleep study interpretation. The evaluation tools for SDB emphasize either diagnosis or quality of life (QOL). Those instruments that attempt to diagnose SDB and its severity aim to substitute clinical criteria for polysomnography. General QOL instruments and those specific to SDB will be discussed. An evaluation of the predictive value for each instrument will be presented. The emphasis will be their practical application in a busy clinical practice. The physical examination component of the symposium will provide a pictorial analysis of the anatomical sites contributing to SDB. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is not the sole etiology for SDB. A systematic approach to the evaluation will be emphasized so that no aspect of the examination is overlooked. A variety of overnight studies exist. They range from a home oximetry study to full-night polysomnography. The reports can range from a 1-page summary to an extensive 10-page report. Otolaryngologists will become familiar with the necessary terminology to understand the report. Examples of sleep recordings and video clips will illustrate the definitions. Participants will learn how to critically analyze the report. The final aspect of the symposium will concentrate on the consequences of SDB. The morbidity of SDB is divided into categories: neurobehavioral, cardiovascular, and somatic growth. Dr Gozal will present current research on these consequences of SDB.

We investigated the alteration of esophageal pressure (Pes) in 10 patients with upper-airway sleep-disordered breathing (UASDB) and the relationship among Pes, breathing patterns and EEG arousals. Increased negative Pes without apnea or hypopnea, appeared not only in upper airway resistance syndrome but also in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This phenomenon produced frequent EEG microarousals leading to sleep fragmentation and daytime sleepiness. Moreover, increased negative Pes occasionally continued for more than 20 min without an EEG arousal, which might be considered to be one of the factors to cause complications of UASDB.

We hypothesize that breathing disorder related arousal index (B-ArI) can differentiate sleep breathing disorder from simple snorer when apnea hypopnea index (AHI) is low. We studied 54 patients using polysomnography. Breathing disorder related arousal (B-Ar) was defined as arousal accompanied by apnea, hypopnea, desaturation or snort. Mean AHI was 44.2+/-34.0/h, and B-ArI correlated significantly with AHI, desaturation index, percentage total sleep time with SpO2 below 90%. Breathing disorder related arousal index was greater than AHI when AHI was below 20. In 11/54 patients, AHI was below 10, and B-ArI more than 10. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was applied to six patients and showed reduced B-ArI. Breathing disorder related arousal index may be one of the useful indices for the diagnosis of sleep breathing disorder when AHI is less than 10.