Linear Cephalometric Analysis of Pharynx at the Level of Epiglottis among Snorers and Nonsnorers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim Snoring, which falls within the spectrum of sleep-related breathing disorders, is considered to be one of the common symptoms of airway obstruction. Lateral cephalometric analysis is an effective way of diagnosing airway obstruction by evaluating skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities in patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The present study was planned to analyze the pharyngeal space among snorers and nonsnorers in the retroglossal region and in the region of hypopharynx at the level of epiglottis. Materials and Methods The present cross-sectional study included a total of 60 individuals who were grouped into snorers and nonsnorers based on their answers for the study questionnaire related to snoring. Digital lateral cephalograms were taken for all maintaining the exposure parameters while Digora software was used for measurements related to the soft tissue parameters. The two significant soft tissue parameters analyzed were the distance of epiglottis from the tip of the soft palate, the retroglossal length, and the distance of posterior pharynx from the tip of the epiglottis, the pharyngeal space. Statistical Analysis The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States) while paired t -test was used for intergroup analysis. A p -value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean retroglossal length was found to be 25.52 mm among the snorers and 23.70 mm among the nonsnorers. In case of pharyngeal space, a mean of 8.54 mm was recorded among the snorers whereas among the nonsnorers, the respective mean value of 10.16 mm was observed. Conclusion In the present study, pharyngeal space was found to be less at the level of the tip of epiglottis among the snorers compared with nonsnorers which can be attributed to be one of the significant reasons behind snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Linear Cephalometric Analysis of Pharynx at the Level of Epiglottis among Snorers and Nonsnorers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Snoring, which falls within the spectrum of sleep-related breathing disorders, is considered to be one of the common symptoms of airway obstruction. Lateral cephalometric analysis is an effective way of diagnosing airway obstruction by evaluating skeletal and soft-tissue abnormalities in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. The present study was planned to analyze the pharyngeal space among snorers and nonsnorers in retroglossal region and in the region of the hypopharynx at the level of epiglottis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included a total of 60 individuals who were grouped into snorers and nonsnorers based on their answers for the study questionnaire related to snoring. Digital lateral cephalograms were taken for all maintaining the exposure parameters, whereas Digora software was used for measurements related to the soft-tissue parameters. The two significant soft-tissue parameters analyzed were the distance of epiglottis from the tip of the soft palate, the retroglossal length and the distance of posterior pharynx from the tip of the epiglottis, the pharyngeal space. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), whereas paired t-test was used for inter-group analysis. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean retroglossal length was found to be 25.52 mm among the snorers and 23.70 mm among the nonsnorers. In the case of pharyngeal space, a mean of 8.54 mm was recorded among the snorers, whereas among the nonsnorers, the respective mean value of 10.16 mm was observed. CONCLUSION: In the present study, pharyngeal space was found to be less at the level of the tip of epiglottis among the snorers compared to nonsnorers which can be attributed to be one of the significant reasons behind snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Chromoblastomycosis due to Cladosporium carrionii.

An 81-year-old male presented with irregular verrucous growth of 6 years duration over the right leg. KOH preparation of the scrapings and histopathology of the lesion showed "sclerotic" bodies diagnostic of chromoblastomycosis. Culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar yielded Cladosporium carrionii.

Ventricular restoration by linear endoventricular patchplasty and linear repair.

Surgical ventricular restoration improves cardiac function in patients with large left ventricular aneurysms. Aneurysm repair techniques have evolved to geometric repair by exclusion of the aneurysmal area with a circular patch. But even circular endoventricular patchplasty may result in a less elliptical ventricle. We modified the techniques of both linear and geometric repair. The early and intermediate outcomes in 102 patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm, treated between 2001 and 2004, were analyzed. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting in 73 patients, mitral valve repair in 29, cryoablation in 3, and post-infarction ventricular septal rupture repair in 3. Overall mortality was 12.7%. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly postoperatively, from 31.5% +/- 6.5% to 34.2% +/- 5.9%. There were significant decreases in end-diastolic volumes from 140.3 +/- 38.3 to 100.8 +/- 33.5 mL, and end-systolic volumes from 95.1 +/- 26.1 to 66.0 +/- 21.7 mL. These benefits continued at the 12- to 52-month follow-up. Our modified technique restores a near physiological left ventricular geometry and has a favorable clinical outcome.