ABSTRACT
VSE can be employed to establish the CPAP in an OSAS patient. This procedure can be conveniently performed at the end of the VSE examination by placing a CPAP mask over the nose of the patient gently with the flexible endoscope in situ. Despite the presence of the scope, a seal can easily be achieved (Fig. 6). We have a picture in picture oximetric tracing on the video monitor screen to facilitate pressure establishment while watching the changes in the upper airway. The aim is to achieve unobstructed breathing at the lowest level of CPAP with minimal snoring. It is interesting that a large airway lumen is not usually necessary to achieve this in the majority of our patients. In our study of 43 cases (40 males and 3 females), we had managed to achieve a 67% precise correlation of established CPAP values using
Figure 3 Tongue-base obstruction with oblique pharyngeal wall collapse.
