정상인의 수면 단계에 따른 상기도의 변화

Abstract

Background and Objectives：Sleep has five diferent periods manifested by changes in the EEG activity and certain behavioral corelates. It has been proposed that the upper airway mechanics would be influenced by slep stage. Although several methods have been used to evaluate the regions over which the upper airway collapses during slep, there were seldom reports about the changes of upper airway according to the slep stage. The present study was conducted to determine the Materials and Method：Using electron beam, we studied ten normal subjects who did not have any slep-disordered breathing. Each patient being monitored with EEG was scanned while sleping naturally. The images were acquired during light slep, deep slep and REM slep during at least two full respiratory cycles. Results：Upper airway collapse was increased with the progresion of sleep, but the level of stenosis was relatively constant throughout the slep. Sleep stage had differential effects on the upper airway size depending on the investigated site. Conclusion：study of either point of slep or either site of airway in isolation may not allow a proper insight on the overall upper airway pathophysiology. (Korean J Otolaryngol 2003 ;46 :491-5)