DIGITAL FLUOROSCOPY BEFORE AND AFTER LASER UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA - IMPORTANCE OF PHARYNGEAL COLLAPSIBILITY AND HYOID BONE POSITION

Purpose: To study the changes in pharyngeal behavior after laser uvulo palatopharyngoplasty (LUPPP). Material and Methods: The dynamic change s in the upper airway size were evaluated with digital fluoroscopy in 24 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before and after LUPPP and in 16 normal controls, while they were awake and breathing normall y. Cephalometric measurements were also made. The patients were classi fied into the categories of good and poor responders by means of a sta tic-charge-sensitive bed. Results: Following LUPPP, collapsibility at the velopharyngeal level was within the normal range in 15 of 17 good responders, but only in 2 of 7 poor responders (p=0.0086). The minimum airway size at the same level showed a similar trend. In 3 of 7 poor responders the hyoid bone was positioned more caudally than in the goo d responders(p=0.017). Conclusion: Digital fluoroscopy provides inform ation on the change in upper airway behavior after LUPPP.