• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.279-287
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• 2019

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by obstructive events of the upper airway (UAW) during sleep, which can be associated with clinical signs and symptoms such as snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired memory, and fatigue. It is associated with many problems like psychosocial problems, physiologic alterations in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems as a result of hypoxia and repeated awakenings during sleep. Conservative treatments such as weight loss, sleep positioning, improvement of sleep hygiene, CPAP and MAD can be performed for the obstructive sleep apnea. However, their effect for the OSA is limited and differs by patient's individual properties. Accordingly, surgical reconstructions of the upper airway must be carried out for the treatment of OSA.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.238-248
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the effects of the long-term use of a maxillary protraction facemask with miniplate (FM-MP) on pharyngeal airway dimensions in growing patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Methods: The study included 24 boys with CLP (mean age, 12.2 years; mean duration of FM-MP therapy, 4.9 years), divided into two groups according to the amount of A point advancement to the vertical reference plane (VRP): Group 1, > 4 mm; Group 2, < 2 mm; n = 12/group. After evaluating the skeletodental and airway variables using lateral cephalograms acquired before and after FM-MP therapy, statistical analyses were performed. Results: Group 1 showed greater forward and downward displacements of the posterior maxilla (posterior nasal spine [PNS]-horizontal reference plane [HRP]; PNS-VRP), greater increase in ANB, more forward tongue position (tongue tip-Pt vertical line to Frankfort horizontal plane), and greater increase in the oropharynx (superior posterior airway space [SPAS]; middle airway space [MAS]) and upper nasopharynx (PNS-adenoid2) than did Group 2. While maxillary advancement (A-VRP and PNS-VRP) correlated with increases in SPAS, MAS, and PNS-adenoid2, downward displacement of the PNS (PNS-HRP) correlated with increases in SPAS, MAS, PNS-adenoid1, and PNS-adenoid2, and with a decrease in vertical airway length (VAL). Mandibular forward displacement and decrease in mandibular plane correlated with increases in MAS. Conclusions: FM-MP therapy had positive effects on the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway spaces without increases in VAL in Group 1 rather than in Group 2. However, further validation using an untreated control group is necessary.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2011

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common sleep disordered breathing conditions. Habitual snoring is caused by a vibration of soft tissue of upper airway while breath in sleeping, and obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the repeated obstructions of airflow for a sleeping, specially airflow of pharynx. Researchers have shown that snoring is the most important symptom connected with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome The treatment is directed toward improving the air flow by various surgical and nonsurgical methods. The current surgical procedures used are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP), orthognathic surgery, nasal cavity surgery. Among the nonsurgical methods there are nasal continuous positive air pressure(CPAP), pharmacologic therapy. weight loss in obese patient, oral appliance(sleep splint). Sleep splint brings the mandible forward in order to increase upper airway volume and prevents total upper airway collapse during sleep. However, the precise mechanism of action is not yet completely understood, especially aerodynamic factor. The aim of this study evaluated the effect of conservative treatment of snoring and OSAS by sleep splint through measured aerodynamic change by an aerophone II. We measured a airflow, sound pressure level, duration, mean power from overall airflow by aerophone II mask. The results indicated that on a positive correlation between a decrease in maximum airflow rate and a decrease in maximum sound pressure level, on a negative correlation between a decrease in maximum airflow rate and a increase in duration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.484-488
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• 2014

Purpose: Chronic upper airway obstruction causes hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction, which may lead to right ventricle (RV) dysfunction. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in children. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate RV function in children with ATH. Methods: Twenty-one children (male/female, 15/6; mean age, $92.3{\pm}39.0$ months; age range, 4-15 years) with ATH and 21 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were included in this study. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and RV myocardial performance index were measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Further, the plasma level of N-terminal of probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), an indicator of RV function, was determined. Results: The snoring-tiredness during daytime-observed apnea-high blood pressure (STOP) questionnaire was completed by the patients' parents, and loud snoring was noted in the ATH group. The plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in the ATH group than that in the controls ($66.44{\pm}37.63pg/mL$ vs. $27.85{\pm}8.89pg/mL$, P=0.001). The echocardiographic parameters were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: We were unable to confirm the significance of echocardiographic evidence of RV dysfunction in the management of children with ATH. However, the plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in the ATH group than that in the control, suggesting that chronic airway obstruction in children may carry a risk for cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, more patients should be examined using transthoracic echocardiography. In addition, pediatricians and otolaryngologists should consider cardiologic aspects during the management of children with severe ATH.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.51.1-51.8
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• 2019

Purpose: It has been reported before that the amount of pharyngeal airway space (PAS) significantly decreases following mandibular setback (MS) surgery in patients with mandibular prognathism (MP). Further, MP patients with an anterior open-bite (AOB) presentation may show a larger decrease in PAS compared with those without AOB. However, studies on postoperative PAS changes in MP patients with AOB remain rare. This study sought to evaluate changes in PAS and hyoid bone positioning following MS surgery in MP patients with and without AOB. Patients and methods: Twenty patients who underwent two jaw surgery involving MS movement were included. Patients were divided into a non-AOB group (n = 10; overbite > 2 mm) and an AOB group (n = 10; overbite < - 4 mm). Three-dimensional changes in PAS and hyoid bone positioning were compared and statistically evaluated pre- and postoperatively using computed tomography (CT). Results: The mean magnitude of MS was 6.0 ± 2.8 mm and 5.6 ± 3.2 mm in the non-AOB group and AOB group, respectively. The oropharyngeal volume and upper hypopharyngeal volume were significantly reduced after surgery in both the groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.003), while the retroglossal cross-sectional area was significantly reduced only in the AOB group (p = 0.028). Although the AOB group showed a larger decrease in PAS, the difference was not statistically significant between the groups. The position of the hyoid bone showed significant posterior and inferior displacement only in the AOB group, while the vertical displacement of the hyoid bone showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: PAS was significantly decreased after MS in both the groups, while only the AOB group presented a statistically significant reduction in the retroglossal cross-sectional area. Vertical displacement of the hyoid bone showed a statistically significant difference between the groups, while the PAS change was not. Surgeons should be aware of potential postoperative airway problems that may arise when performing MS surgeries.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 2018

The respiratory function is relevant to the craniofacial growth and orthodontic diagnosis. The size of the pharyngeal airway was measured in lateral cephalometric view in children visited Kyung Hee University Hospital from January 2015 to August 2017. A total of 74 healthy children (36 boys and 38 girls) aged 7 - 11 years (mean, 8.5 years) with a normodivergent facial pattern were divided into three groups according to anteroposterior jaw relation measuring A point-Nasion-B point (ANB) angle. Lateral cephalometric data were used to measure the airway dimensions. The dimensions of the middle airway were significantly lower, reducing the upper airway space, in large ANB angle group than in other children, suggesting that children with large ANB angle have narrower airway space than others.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.155-167
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of slow maxillary expansion (SME) on the dentoalveolar, skeletal, upper airway, and maxillary sinus using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Twenty-three orthodontic patients (mean age 8.93 ± 1.61 years) who were treated with maxillary expansion using banded hyrax in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Jeonbuk National University Dental Hospital were included. According to the expansion speed applied, they were divided into two groups: SME (12 subjects, mean age 8.92 ± 1.45 years) and rapid maxillary expansion (RME, 11 subjects, mean age 8.94 ± 1.84 years). CBCT were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) the treatment and were analyzed with InVivo5 software (Anatomage, San Jose, CA, USA). Descriptive statistics showed no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, or skeletal maturity. There were significant increases in maxillary width at the dentoalveolar and skeletal levels for both groups. Upper airway volume revealed a significant increase of 38.59% in the SME group and 28.72% in the RME group. However, there was no significant difference between SME group and RME group in all measurements. This study suggested the efficacy of SME in growing patients. SME was effective in increasing not only dentoalveolar and skeletal measurements but also airway volume. Therefore, pediatric dentists should select an appropriate expansion method considering the physiological aspects of periodontal tissues and discomfort in growing children.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2020

Cri-du-chat syndrome (CdCS) is caused by the deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. Most patients with CdCS develop intellectual disabilities. Therefore, they have poor oral hygiene and a high caries index. However, treating such patients is not an easy task, because of the difficulty in communication. General anesthesia may be a useful option in adult patients with CdCS and intellectual disability. General anesthesia should be administered very carefully, owing to the presence of comorbid diseases, which may need airway management. Infants with CdCS need general anesthesia if they have a concomitant cardiac anomaly. Intubation is reportedly difficult for such patients was, owing to the structural and functional abnormalities in the larynx and vocal cords. The purpose of this study was to report a case of difficult intubation while inducing general anesthesia in a patient with CdCS during dental treatment, due to a narrow larynx and trachea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.947-950
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• 1999

Tracheal neurilemoma, an extremely rare benign tracheal tumor that there has been only one case reported in 1996 throughout the nation, is a slowly progressing disease that obliterates the upper airway, delays diagnosis for its symptom similarity to asthma, and makes intubation for operation difficult. Bronchoscopic is therefore needed for diagnosis. There are two options for the treatment methods, a bronchoscopic resection or open surgical resection; however if intubation is difficult, then the bronchoscopic resection is used first to keep the airway open for the surgical resection. In this case, the severe tracheal stenosis impeding intubation made the surgical resection of the primary tracheal neurilemoma with extratracheal mass impossible; therefore, bronchoscopic laser resection was applied first to optain the airway passage for endotracheal intubation, followed by a successful open surgical resection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2020

Tracheostomy is considered as a first treatment, when oral intubation seems to be difficult in patient who present severe upper airway obstruction. Generally, tracheostomy is performed in supine position. But if airway obstruction is severe enough to cause dyspnea, low oxygen saturation and inability to maintain supine position, tracheostomy should be performed in sitting position. The authors report a case of successful tracheostomy using high flow nasal cannula which help to maintain stable oxygen saturation and respiration in patients with laryngeal cancer.