| Objective:To investigate the upper airway 3-D CT changes after wearing Silensor oral appliance in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) .Methods:10 OSAS patients were studied with PSG and 3-D CT scan before and after wearing Silensor oral appliance four weeks ,to compare the 3-D CT changes of upper airway and the results of PSG before and after wearing Silensor oral appliance.Results:1.After wearing Silensor OA ,AHI had decreased from (29.05±4.45) per hour to (6.65±1.60) per hour( P< 0.05) ;SaO2 had increased from(65.50±7.88)﹪to(87.70±2.98)﹪(P<0.05);The mean apnea time had decreased from(26.79±3.53)S to(15.85±4.91)S(P<0.01);Snoring sound index had decreased from(54.35±15.97)per hour to(2.10±0.79)per hour (P<0.05).2.After wearing Silensor OA ,the size of upper airway(beside nasopharynx) was enlarged significantly.The cross section area of velopharynx was increased from(48.91±16.83)㎜ 2 to (94.71±36.81)㎜ 2(P<0.01),the volume of velopharynx was increased from (2657.10±340.67)㎜ 3 to (3098.90±325.07)㎜ 3(P<0.01);while the cross section area of glossopharyngeum was increased from(93.38±24.70)㎜ 2 t(o129.98±13.22)㎜ 2( P<0.01),the volume of glossopharyngeum was increased from(3121.50±128.40)㎜ 3 to (3599.20±121.00)㎜ 3(P<0.01);the cross section area of laryngopharynx was increased from(106.87±12.39)㎜ 2 to( 137.40±11.09)㎜ 2(P< 0.05),the volume of laryngopharynx was increased from(3826.10±124.95)㎜ 3 to (4071.70±69.77)㎜ 3(P<0.05).3.Using VR(volume rendering) technique reconstruction the upper airway of OSAS patients before and after wearing Silensor OA,we found the changes of the upper airway were three-dimensional,not only the anterior- posterior dimension increased also the lateral dimension ,and the shape of upper airway became more flat.Conclusion : The upper airway of OSAS patient was enlarged significantly by Silensor oral appliance,especially the velopharynx and glossopharyngeum,so it worked with the effect of enlarging upper airway. The 3-D CT,especially the VR technique,is an effective and special method in OSAS research. |
