Upper airway resistance syndrome

The upper airway resistance syndrome ( UARS ) is a sub-form of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB ). For those affected are snoring, daytime sleepiness, mood disorders, difficulty falling asleep and Atemflusslimitationen associated with arousals during sleep, found, however, in contrast to the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS ) no desaturation or apnea.

The three forms of " snoring ", " Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome" and " Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome " are considered different degrees of severity of the same disorder. The UARS is defined that the muscle tone in the upper airway is still sufficiently high to keep a portion of the lumen of the airway open. This leads to an increase in respiratory -related arousals without real apnea.

Investigation

For diagnostic polysomnography is used in the sleep laboratory for detailed medical history. The typical changes of breathing during sleep and the resulting arousals are recognized and distinguished from OSAS.

Treatment

The " Nasal continuous positive airway pressure " ( CPAP) is considered the treatment of choice in patients with UARS. However, it was found that the treatment compliance of patients is worse than in patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Mandibular come to therapy in some cases. It is individually after impression of the teeth made ​​, lab engineered, adjustable and intra- orally transmitted rail systems. By wearing the narrowing of the pharyngeal space is reduced, the airways are kept open mechanically during sleep and airway resistance decreases.

In certain cases, different surgical alternatives considered in which excess soft tissue in the extrathoracic airways or bony anatomical constrictions are eliminated.