1 Introduction Difficulty breathing through the nose is one of the most frequent complaints presented to an otolaryngologist. Nasal septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy are easily identified as areas of…

1 Introduction Sleep-disordered breathing and snoring are exceedingly common presentations to physicians. In general, the etiology is highly variable from base of tongue obstruction, laryngomalacia, retrognathia, or weak pharyngeal muscle…

1 Introduction The inferior turbinate is the largest of the three paired turbinates and plays a large role in humidifying and filtering air, as well as directing airflow through the…

1 Nasal Obstruction and Sleep-Disordered Breathing The link between nasal airway obstruction (NAO) and restless sleep has been known since antiquity: Hippocrates reported an association between poor sleep and nasal…

Consideration of the complex relationship between sites of airway obstruction is paramount to choosing the correct surgical approach to treatment. Selecting patients who are likely to respond to surgery necessitates…

Effective surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) must be designed to eliminate collapsible soft tissue in the upper airway without interfering with normal function. Creation of a noncollapsible…

1 Introduction It is widely accepted that particular mouth and tongue positions affect patency of the upper airway. Specifically, mouth opening is believed to decrease the cross-sectional area, whereas tongue…

1 Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), upper airway resistance syndrome, and snoring are collectively referred to as sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs). SRBD involve repeated partial or complete obstructions of…

1 Goals and Considerations Multiple mechanisms underlie upper airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although a small upper airway size is fundamental to OSA, muscle tone, tissue factors, lung…

1 Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is often the result of obstruction at multiple anatomic sites. Nasal, palatal, and hypopharyngeal obstruction, acting alone or in concert, are frequently identified…