Journal article
Upper airway and soft tissue structural changes induced by CPAP in normal subjects
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, Vol.154(4), pp.1106-1116
1996
DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.154.4.8887615
PMID: 8887615
Abstract
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice for adults with obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP is known to increase upper airway size; however, the direct effects of CPAP on soft tissue structures surrounding the upper airway are less well understood. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to study the effect of incremental levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O) of CPAP on the upper airway and surrounding soft tissue structures in 10 normal subjects. Progressive increases in CPAP resulted in the following major findings: (1) airway volume and airway area (measured at several different locations [midregion, minimal, maximal]) within the retropalatal and retroglossal regions increased; (2) lateral airway dimensional changes were greater than anterior-posterior changes; (3) lateral upper airway soft tissue structural changes were significantly greater than anterior-posterior changes; (4) lateral pharyngeal wall thickness decreased and the distance between the lateral parapharyngeal fat pads increased. An inverse relationship was demonstrated between CPAP level and pharyngeal wall thickness; (5) minimal changes were noted in the soft palate and tongue. These data suggest that the lateral pharyngeal walls are more "compliant" than the soft palate and tongue. This investigation provides further evidence that the lateral pharyngeal walls play an important role in mediating upper airway caliber.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Upper airway and soft tissue structural changes induced by CPAP in normal subjects
- Creators
- R. J SCHWAB - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesA. I PACK - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesK. B GUPTA - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesL. J METZGER - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesE OH - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesJ. E GETSY - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesE. A HOFFMAN - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesW. B GEFTER - Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, Vol.154(4), pp.1106-1116
- Publisher
- American Lung Association; New York, NY
- DOI
- 10.1164/ajrccm.154.4.8887615
- PMID
- 8887615
- ISSN
- 1073-449X
- eISSN
- 1535-4970
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 1996
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984051530602771
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