Two-dimensional and three-dimensional assessment of the upper airway / Evaluación bidimensional y tridimensional de la vía aérea superior

The aim of this study was to validate and correlate the two-dimensional (2D) with the three-dimensional (3D) measures of the upper airway assessment. Lateral cephalograms and cone beam CT of 100 adult subjects were used to perform a 2D and 3D assessment of the upper airway. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine whether there was correlation between variables. Additionally, specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value was calculated for the 2D assessment of the upper airway. Correlation between all two and three dimensional variables was found. In the nasopharynx and oropharynx, a weak correlation (r <0.51) was found; in the oropharynx a moderate one (0.50

El objetivo de este estudio fue validar y correlacionar las medidas bidimensionales (2D) con las medidas tridimensionales (3D) de la evaluación de las vías aéreas superiores. Se realizaron cefalogramas laterales y cone beam CT en 100 sujetos adultos para realizar una evaluación 2D y 3D de la vía aérea superior. Se utilizó el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman para determinar si había correlación entre las variables. Además, para la evaluación 2D de la vía aérea superior, se calculó la especificidad, sensibilidad, valor predictivo negativo y valor predictivo positivo. Se encontró correlación en todas las variables entre dos y tres dimensiones. En la nasofaringe y la orofaringe, se encontró una correlación débil (r <0,51) mientras que en la orofaringe moderada (0,50

Pharyngeal airway space in subjects with class II and class III facial deformities / Espacio de la vía aérea faríngea en sujetos con deformidad facial clase II y clase III

Facial deformities are related to morphological differences and the mandible position shows differences in maxillomandible relation. The aim of this research was to compare the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in subjects with class II and class III facial deformities We included 28 adult subjects with skeletal characteristics associated to class II or class III according to the SNA angle and dental overjet; subjects with facial asymmetry and other facial deformities and subjects with facial trauma or facial surgery history were excluded. Cone beam computed tomography was realized (CBCT) to asses the nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, as well as the distance measured between the mandible genial spine and hyoid bone; data analysis were realized by descriptive analysis and statistical analysis using t test with 0.05 to show statistical differences. Class II subjects presented minor values in all of the measurements; in the oropharynx and the hypopharynx we observed the most important differences, with nasopharynx showing statistically significant differences (p<0.05). In conclusion class II subjects presented a minor pharyngeal airway space and it is suggested that this information should be used in the diagnosis process and prior to surgical treatment.

Las deformidades faciales son asociadas a diferencias en la posición mandibular evidenciando diferencias en la relación maxilomandibular. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comparar el espacio aéreo faríngeo en sujetos con deformidad facial clase II y clase III. Se incluyeron 28 sujetos con características esqueletales asociadas a clase II o clase III seguidos de la evaluación del angulo SNA y el resalte dentario; se excluyeron los sujetos con asimetría facial y otras deformidades faciales y sujetos con historia de trauma facial o historia de cirugía facial; se realizó la tomografía computadorizada cone beam para evaluar el área de nasofaringe, orofaringe, hipofaringe y la distancia entre la espina geni mandibular y el hueso hioides; los datos se analizaron con estadística descriptiva y la prueba t usando un valor de 0,05 para establecer significancia estadística. Se observó que los sujetos de clase II presentaron valores menores a los sujetos clase III en todas las mediciones realizadas; en el área de orofaringe e hipofaringe se observaron las diferencias mas importantes, estadísticamente significativas (p<0,05). Se puede concluir que los sujetos con deformidad facial clase II presentan un espacio de vía aérea faríngea más estrecho y se sugiere que este temática sea resuelta en la etapa de diagnóstico previo a la selección de tratamientos quirúrgicos o no quirúrgicos.

Upper Airway Volume Segmentation Analysis Using Cine MRI Findings in Children with Tracheostomy Tubes

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the airway dynamics of the upper airway as depicted on cine MRI in children with tracheotomy tubes during two states of airflow through the upper airway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal fast gradient echo cine MR images of the supra-glottic airway were obtained with a 1.5T MRI scanner on seven children with tracheotomy tubes. Two sets of images were obtained with either the tubes capped or uncapped. The findings of the cine MRI were retrospectively reviewed. Volume segmentation of the cine images to compare the airway volume change over time (mean volume, standard deviation, normalized range, and coefficient of variance) was performed for the capped and uncapped tubes in both the nasopharynx and hypopharynx (Signed Rank Test). RESULTS: Graphical representation of the airway volume over time demonstrates a qualitative increased fluctuation in patients with the tracheotomy tube capped as compared to uncapped in both the nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal regions of interest. In the nasopharynx, the mean airway volume (capped 2.72 mL, uncapped 2.09 mL, p = 0.0313), the airway volume standard deviation (capped 0.42 mL, uncapped 0.20 mL, p = 0.0156), and the airway volume range (capped 2.10 mL, uncapped 1.09 mL, p = 0.0156) were significantly larger in the capped group of patients. In the hypopharynx, the airway volume standard deviation (capped 1.54 mL, uncapped 0.67 mL, p = 0.0156), and the airway volume range (capped 6.44 mL, uncapped 2.93 mL, p = 0.0156) were significantly larger in the capped tubes. The coefficient of variance (capped 0.37, uncapped 0.26, p = 0.0469) and the normalized range (capped 1.52, uncapped 1.09, p = 0.0313) were significantly larger in the capped tubes. CONCLUSION: There is a statistically significant change in airway dynamics in children with tracheotomy tubes when breathing via the airway as compared to breathing via the tracheotomy tube.