Study Objectives: There are only a few reports on voluntary swallowing during sleep; therefore, this study aimed to propose a method for observing voluntary swallowing during sleep using polysomnography. The frequency of voluntary swallowing during sleep and the factors related to swallowing and aspiration during sleep were investigated.
Methods: Polysomnography records of 20 control subjects and 60 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (mild, moderate, and severe groups; n = 20 each) were collected.
Study Objectives: Animal studies suggest a pivotal role of the hyoid bone in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to explore the role of the hyoid bone in humans by testing the hypotheses that muscle paralysis and lung volume (LV) changes displace the hyoid bone position particularly in people with obesity and/or OSA.
Methods: Fifty patients undergoing general anesthesia participated in this study (20 participants with nonobese, non-OSA; 8 people with nonobese OSA; and 22 people with obese OSA).