Characterizing Upper Airway Collapse to Guide Patient Selection for Oral Appliance Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Insomnia Sleep Studies, Pulmonary, Pulmonary
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases
Healthy:No
Age Range:21 - 70
Updated:4/17/2018
Start Date:June 2015
End Date:May 2019
Contact:Lauren B Hess, BS
Email:lhess1@partners.org
Phone:(617) 732-8976

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Characterizing Site and Severity of Upper Airway Collapse to Guide Patient Selection for Oral Appliance Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by collapse of one or more pharyngeal
structures during sleep (velum, tongue base, lateral walls, epiglottis). Structure-specific
therapies for OSA have emerged as alternatives to positive airway pressure (PAP). Oral
appliance (OA) therapy is increasingly being indicated for OSA treatment, although a complete
response occurs in approximately 50% of patients. In general, OA devices are designed to
maintain the mandible and/or tongue in a protruded posture during sleep, preventing upper
airway obstruction. Limited studies in awake or sedated patients have demonstrated the
effects of mandibular advancement on aspects of pharyngeal structure and function. The
objective of the proposed research is to fully characterize upper airway collapse in OSA
patients during natural sleep and use this information to understand why some patients appear
to exhibit a large improvement in pharyngeal collapsibility whereas others do not.

OSA patients will undergo a baseline sleep endoscopy study to identify the site of pharyngeal
collapse. Subsequently, they will undergo two clinical polysomnographies (PSGs) to measure
the effect of an oral appliance (a site specific therapy) on upper airway collapsibility and
sleep apnea severity. During the first hour of each clinical PSG, the passive pharyngeal
collapsibility will be determined using the standard 5-breath continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) drop method. During the remainder of the night, patients will be monitored to
determine sleep apnea severity (apnea-hypopnea index). These measurements will allow the
investigators to determine which pharyngeal collapsing site responds best (both in terms of
collapsibility and AHI) to mandibular advancement with an oral appliance. Patients who have
their own oral appliance will be recruited. In addition, patients without an oral appliance
will be provided with a temporary oral appliance for the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any unstable cardiac condition (other than well controlled hypertension) or pulmonary
problems.

- Any medication known to influence breathing, sleep/arousal or muscle physiology

- Concurrent sleep disorders (insomnia, narcolepsy, central sleep apnea or parasomnia)

- Claustrophobia

- Inability to sleep supine

- Periodontal disease and/or insufficient number of teeth

- Allergy to lidocaine or oxymetazoline hydrochloride

- For women: Pregnancy
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(617) 732-5500
Phone: 617-732-8976
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