The relationship of lingual region upper airway stricture and lingua-epiglottis position type in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea patients

Objective To investigate the relationship of lingual region upper airway stricture and lingua-epiglottis position type in OSAHS patients.Methods 113 patients with OSAHS were divided into three groups by lingua-epiglottis position type.The dimensions and area of lingual region airway,the thickness of retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal tissue,the tongue width,tongue lengoth and tongue area were compared among each groups.Results No difference on age,BMI,AHI and lowest pulse oxygen was found among three groups of OSAHS patients.CT comparative results of the three groups showed the area,coronal and airway diameter of lingual region upper airways were diminishing,tongue length,tongue area and the percentage of lingual region airway stricture were increasing from type Ⅰ to type Ⅲ.Conclusion The study suggests there is an evident correlation between lingual region airway stricture and lingua-epiglottis position type in OSAHS patients.Lingual region airway stricture can be predicted by lingua-epiglottis position type.