Usefulness of a Titratable Mandibular Positioner During Sleep Endoscopy as a Prediction Tool for Treatment Outcome with Mandibular Advancement Devices: DISE-SAM Protocol

Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are an effective alternative treatment to CPAP. However, different maneuvers have been performed during the performance of drug sleep-induced endoscopy (DISE) to mimic the effect of MAD. Using the Selector Avance Mandibular (SAM) device, we aimed to identify MAD candidates during DISE using a titratable, reproducible, and measurable maneuver. This DISE-SAM protocol may help to find the relationship between the severity of the respiratory disorder and the degree of response, and to determine the advancement required to improve the collapsibility of the upper airway. Explorations were performed in 161 patients (132 males; 29 females) with a mean age of 46.81 (SD = 11.42) years, a BMI of 27.90 (SD = 4.19) kg/m2 and a mean AHI of 26.51 (SD = 21.23). Results showed no relationship between severity and MAD recommendation. Also, there was a weak positive relationship between the advancement required to obtain a response and the disease severity. Using the DISE-SAM protocol, the response and the range of mandibular protrusion were assessed, avoiding the inter-examiner bias of the jaw thrust maneuver. We suggest prescribing MAD as a single, alternative, or multiple treatment approaches following the SAM recommendations in a personalized design.

Robotic Modification of Epiglottis Trimming in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective With the widespread use of drug-induced sleep endoscopy, it has been suggested that epiglottis pathologies are present at high rates in patients with sleep apnea. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of trimming the curled-inward epiglottis as an updated surgical technique in patients with omega epiglottis. Study Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary hospital. Methods Among the 283 patients with epiglottis pathology, 21 with isolated omega-shaped epiglottis (age, 33-53 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria between May 2016 and April 2019. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy was used to detect epiglottic collapse compressed by the lateral parts during inspiration. An epiglottoplasty technique was applied as single-level sleep surgery in patients with an isolated omega-shaped epiglottis. The medical data were also reviewed. Results The mean pre- and postoperative total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores were 27.89 and 10.58, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant ( P < .001). There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and postoperative supine AHI scores (27.02 vs 10.48, P < .001). Surgical success, defined as AHI <20 and a decrease in AHI by 50%, was documented in 85.71% of patients (18/21), and 12 patients found complete relief from obstructive sleep apnea symptoms (AHI <5); the cure rate was 38.09% (8/21). Conclusion Trimming the curled-inward epiglottis may represent an excellent option for epiglottis surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea by being less invasive than techniques currently in use.

Comparison of Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy and Natural Sleep Endoscopy in the Assessment of Upper Airway Pathophysiology During Sleep: Protocol and Study Design

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a complex and heterogenous disorder. As a result, a “one-size-fits-all” management approach should be avoided. Therefore, evaluation of pathophysiological endotyping in OSA patients is emphasized, with upper airway collapse during sleep as one of the main features. To assess the site(s) and pattern(s) of upper airway collapse, natural sleep endoscopy (NSE) is defined as the gold standard. As NSE is labor-intensive and time-consuming, it is not feasible in routine practice. Instead, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is the most frequently used technique and can be considered as the clinical standard. Flow shape and snoring analysis are non-invasive measurement techniques, yet are still evolving. Although DISE is used as the clinical alternative to assess upper airway collapse, associations between DISE and NSE observations, and associated flow and snoring signals, have not been quantified satisfactorily. In the current project we aim to compare upper airway collapse identified in patients with OSA using endoscopic techniques as well as flow shape analysis and analysis of tracheal snoring sounds between natural and drug-induced sleep.Methods: This study is a blinded prospective comparative multicenter cohort study. The study population will consist of adult patients with a recent diagnosis of OSA. Eligible patients will undergo a polysomnography (PSG) with NSE overnight and a DISE within 3 months. During DISE the upper airway is assessed under sedation by an experienced ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeon using a flexible fiberoptic endoscope in the operating theater. In contrast to DISE, NSE is performed during natural sleep using a pediatric bronchoscope. During research DISE and NSE, the standard set-up is expanded with additional PSG measurements, including gold standard flow and analysis of tracheal snoring sounds.Conclusions: This project will be one of the first studies to formally compare collapse patterns during natural and drug-induced sleep. Moreover, this will be, to the authors' best knowledge, the first comparative research in airflow shape and tracheal snoring sounds analysis between DISE and NSE. These novel and non-invasive diagnostic methods studying upper airway mechanics during sleep will be simultaneously validated against DISE and NSE.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04729478.