Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
High nasal resistance may be a result rather than a cause of obstructive sleep apnea
Yingshen Lu1, Shuai Li, Hui Jin
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital to Guangzhou Medical University, 151 Yanjiangxi Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) show high nasal resistance (NR). The present study tested the hypothesis that nasal obstruction in OSA patients could be caused by pharyngeal narrow. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on NR in patients with OSA. Rhinomanometry was performed and the Mallampati score was recorded during wakefulness in a sitting position before and after UPPP for 33 patients with OSA. Thirty-three healthy volunteers were used as a control group. The NR in patients with OSA (0.37 ± 0.22 Pa/cm(3)/s) was significantly higher than that of the normal controls (0.19 ± 0.04 Pa/cm(3)/s) (p < 0.01). The NR decreased from 0.37 ± 0.22 to 0.20 ± 0.05 Pa/cm(3)/s (p < 0.01) after UPPP with the Mallampati score decreased from 3.00 ± 0.56 to 1.52 ± 0.57 (p < 0.01). However, NR values after UPPP were still higher than those of the control group, but there was no significant difference between those two groups (p = 0.34). The present study showed that the high NR may not be completely attributable to nasal anatomic obstruction, but may result from pharyngeal narrow in OSA. High NR may be a result of OSA rather than a cause.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Other Pulmonary Disorders
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

