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Numerical analysis for the efficacy of nasal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

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  • Bio-mechanics
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Abstract

In the present study, we reconstructed upper airway and soft palate models of 3 obstructive sleep apnea—hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients with nasal obstruction. The airflow distribution and movement of the soft palate before and after surgery were described by a numerical simulation method. The curative effect of nasal surgery was evaluated for the three patients with OSAHS. The degree of nasal obstruction in the 3 patients was improved after surgery. For 2 patients with mild OSAHS, the upper airway resistance and soft palate displacement were reduced after surgery. These changes contributed to the mitigation of respiratory airflow limitation. For the patient with severe OSAHS, the upper airway resistance and soft palate displacement increased after surgery, which aggravated the airway obstruction. The efficacy of nasal surgery for patients with OSAHS is determined by the degree of improvement in nasal obstruction and whether the effects on the pharynx are beneficial. Numerical simulation results are consistent with the polysomnogram (PSG) test results, chief complaints, and clinical findings, and can indirectly reflect the degree of nasal patency and improvement of snoring symptoms, and further, provide a theoretical basis to solve relevant clinical problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, China

    Shen Yu, Ying-Xi Liu, Xiu-Zhen Sun & Ying Wang

  2. Department of Otorhinalaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116027, Dalian, China

    Ying-Xi Liu, Xiu-Zhen Sun, Ying-Feng Su & Yin-Zhe Gai

Authors
  1. Shen Yu
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  2. Ying-Xi Liu
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  3. Xiu-Zhen Sun
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  4. Ying-Feng Su
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  5. Ying Wang
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  6. Yin-Zhe Gai
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ying-Xi Liu or Xiu-Zhen Sun.

Additional information

The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10902022, 11072055, and 11032008) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT13LK49).

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Yu, S., Liu, YX., Sun, XZ. et al. Numerical analysis for the efficacy of nasal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Acta Mech Sin 30, 250–258 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-014-0037-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-014-0037-6

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