Transverse Maxillary Deficiency Predicts Increased Upper Airway Collapsibility during Drug‐Induced Sleep Endoscopy

Otolaryngology · 2023 · 11 citations

• Medicine
• Anesthesia
• Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between craniofacial skeletal anatomy and objective measures of pharyngeal collapse obtained during drug-induced sleep endoscopy. We hypothesized that transverse maxillary deficiency and an increased pharyngeal length will be associated with higher levels of pharyngeal collapsibility. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis in a prospective cohort. SETTING: University Hospital. METHODS: ) and pharyngeal opening pressure (PhOP). CT metrics included: Transverse maxillary dimensions (interpremolar and intermolar distances) and pharyngeal length (posterior nasal spine to hyoid distance). RESULTS: O/mm, p = .04). These associations persisted after adjustments for sex, age, height, and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our results further the concept that skeletal restriction in the transverse dimension and hyoid descent are associated with elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility during sleep, suggesting a role of transverse deficiency in the pathogenesis of airway obstruction.