[Exercise pharynx and genioglossus to treat obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the method and effect of exercising larynx and genioglossus to treat obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHOD

Fifty-four patients who were diagnosed as OSAHS and exercised larynx and genioglossus were defined as treatment group. We took Epworth sleep scale, check patient's PSG, and took computer tomography (320CT) before treatment, 6 months and 12 months later. We made a record of AHI, LSaO2, BMI, the shortest sagittal diameter and transverse diameter. Compared with 30 patients who had taken UPPP surgery (control group 1) and the 21 patients without any treatment (control group 2) at the same time. SPSS 10.0 was used to analyze the data.

RESULT

According to Chinese OSAHS construction in 2009, 6 months and 12 months later, the effective rates of treatment group were 31.48% and 44.44%, among which the effective rates in mild and moderate patients of treatment group were 44.74% and 63.16%. Before treatment the mark of Epworth sleep scale was 7.67, 6 month and 12 month later the marks were 3.54 and 3.25. AHI were up to 15.45 after 6 months and 13. 60 after 12 months from 22. 84 at the beginning. LSaO2 were up to 81.18% after 6 months and 81.93% after 12 months from 74.05% at the beginning. The effective rate of control group 1 was 66.67%, and was much higher than the treatment group 6 months later (P < 0.05). But there was no statistics difference of effective rate between treatment group and control group 1 (36.67%) after 12 months (P > 0.05). The effective rates of treatment group were much higher than control group 2 (P < 0.01). After 12 months, the sagittal wall compliance of retropalatal area was lower (P < 0.01). There was no significant change of BMI in every group.

CONCLUSION

Exercising larynx and genioglossus is one kind of non-invasive and effective method without payment to treat part of OSAHS patients, especially the patients who is old, without surgical condition, and especially mild and moderate OSAHS patient that do not want to take surgery and CPAP treatment. Besides, exercising larynx and genioglossus can be considered as remedial treatment of OSAHS to surgery and other therapy.