The exact anatomical site of anesthesia-induced airway obstruction is controversial [3,6-11]. The traditional knowledge postulates that the posterior movement of the tongue by a reduced genioglossus activity is the major cause of airway obstruction [12-14]. More recent studies suggest that the airway obstruction occurs at different sites, such as at the level of epiglottis or soft palate [69,11...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To evaluate the clinical value of polysomnography in patients with a tracheotomy due to chronic upper airway obstruction prior to attempting decannulation. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. METHODS Subjects with chronic upper airway obstruction were identified using a clinical database between 2000 and 2014. All subjects had a tracheotomy, were assessed by the s...

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and represents an increasing burden on health care resources. Understanding underlying pathogenic mechanisms of OSA will ultimately allow for the development of rational therapeutic strategies. In this article, we review current concepts about the pathogenesis of OSA. Specifically, we consider the evidenc...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing after stroke has been reported to be between 32% and 71%. However, the first 24-hour period, when upper airway obstruction may have a critical effect on the cerebral circulation because of hemodynamic fluctuations and repetitive hypoxia, has not been studied. Furthermore, data on prediction of upper airway obstruction after str...

tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (to) is a rare disorder of large airways with unknown etiology which is characterized by cartilaginous and bony nodules lining the mucosa of the trachea and major bronchi. generally, it is benign and asymptomatic, but it may present with cough, exertional dyspnea and wheezing. it could therefore be mistaken with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of synchronous airway lesions and esophagitis in children younger than 18 months undergoing adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy and upper airway obstruction. DESIGN Retrospective review spanning 4.5 years. SETTING Tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS All children younger than 18 months who underwent adenoidectomy for upper airway obstruction ...

We report two cases of severe upper airway obstruction caused by supraglottic oedema which developed rapidly at the time of anaesthesia. Conventional methods to relieve the obstruction failed and it was only overcome when a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted and positive pressure applied manually during inspiration. In one case a fibrescope was passed via the LMA and this revealed two cus...

BACKGROUND Airway obstruction and feeding difficulty can occur in patients born with Pierre Robin sequence. In select patients with pronounced micrognathia, surgical intervention to relieve the airway obstruction is necessary. The surgical indications and appropriate surgical procedure continue to have a great deal of controversy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience of tong...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To examine drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings in nonresponders to previous pharyngeal obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS DISE using propofol for unconscious sedation was performed in nonresponders to previous OSA surgery (including palate surgery with or without tonsillectomy and possible other procedures). Nonrespond...