ABSTRACT
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a collective term, which encompasses snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These terms describe a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Patency of the pharyngeal airway is maintained by two opposing forces: negative intraluminal pressure and the activity of the upper airway musculature. Anatomical or central neural abnormalities can disrupt this delicate balance with resultant compromise of the upper airway. This reduction of airway caliber may cause sleep fragmentation and subsequent behavioral derangements, such as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (1-3). Thus, medical and surgical therapy attempt to alleviate this obstruction and increase airway patency.
