Control of Tongue Position in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Concept and Protocol for a Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Dental Surgery
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) poses risks during sedation.
• Maintaining upper airway patency is crucial for OSA patients undergoing procedures.
• Tongue position significantly influences airway stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel tongue position retainer in maintaining upper airway patency during sedation in OSA patients.
• To compare the effects of a protruded tongue position (Intervention A) versus a resting tongue position (Intervention B) on breathing events.
• To assess the potential of tongue position control as a therapeutic option for OSA.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, non-blinded, crossover trial involving 26 male participants with OSA (10 ≤ respiratory event index < 30/h).
• Participants underwent two interventions (tongue retainer: protruded vs. resting position) under intravenous sedation, separated by a washout period.
• The primary outcome measured was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to assess breathing abnormalities.

Main Results:

• Both interventions demonstrated an improvement in abnormal breathing events compared to no tongue control.
• Intervention A (protruded tongue position) showed superior effectiveness in improving breathing events over Intervention B (resting tongue position).
• The tongue position retainer proved effective in managing airway patency during sedation.

Conclusions:

• Tongue position control using a novel retainer is a viable strategy for maintaining upper airway patency in OSA patients during sedation.
• Protruding the tongue offers a more significant therapeutic benefit than maintaining a resting position for managing OSA during procedures.
• This approach presents a promising, non-invasive therapeutic option for OSA management.