수면 무호흡 환자에서 비디오 내시경을 이용한 구개 인두부 움직임의 역동적 분석

Background and Objective: Polysomnography is a functional diagnostic tool recording the actual sleep apnea, but it fails to show the anatomical changes of the velopharyngeal area which occur during the sleep cycle, and it is not always feasible as a postoperative test because of its cost, and time-consuming nature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of the fiberoptic endoscope video recording as an alternative pre- and postoperative test of the OSA patients. Materials and Method: 15 OSA patients who underwent UPPP were enrolled pre- and postoperatively. Snoring and daytime sleepiness were evaluated subjectively. The status of the velopharynx was recorded with fiberoptic videonasoendoscopy during voluntary palatal snoring and expiration. The images were reconstructed according to time sequence. Compliance and Collapsibility Index was calculated. Results: The average postoperative compliance of the velopharyngeal area decreased significantly. The Collapsibility Index significantly decreased after UPPP and significantly correlated with subjective symptoms. Conclusions: Fiberoptic nasoendoscopy is a simple but a useful method that can be used in dynamic evaluation of the pre- and postoperative velopharynx of OSA patients in outpatient basis. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2003;14:288-293)