Neurophysiological basis of respiratory discomfort improvement by mandibular advancement in awake OSA patients.

Patients with obstructive sleep apneas (OSA) do not complain from dyspnea during resting breathing. Placement of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) can lead to a sense of improved respiratory comfort ("pseudo-relief") ascribed to a habituation phenomenon. To substantiate this conjecture, we hypothesized that, in non-dyspneic awake OSA patients, respiratory-related electroencephalographic figures, abnormally present during awake resting breathing, would disappear or change in parallel with MAD-associated pseudo-relief.

Osteopathic Manipulation of the Sphenopalatine Ganglia Versus Sham Manipulation, in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrom: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: osteopathic manipulation of the sphenopalatine ganglia (SPG) blocks the action of postganglionic sensory fibres. This neuromodulation can reduce nasal obstruction and enhance upper airway stability. We investigated the manipulation of the SPG in 31 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS); (2) Methods: Randomised, controlled, double-blind, crossover study.

Mandibular advancement reveals long-term suppression of breathing discomfort in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) patients do not report breathing discomfort in spite of abnormal upper airway mechanics. We studied respiratory sensations in OSAS patients without and with mandibular advancement device (MAD). Fifty-seven moderate to severe non obese OSAS patients were asked about breathing discomfort using visual analogue scales (VAS) in the sitting position (VAS-1), after lying down (VAS-2), then with MAD (VAS-3).

Upper airway stabilization by osteopathic manipulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion versus sham manipulation in OSAS patients: a proof-of-concept, randomized, crossover, double-blind, controlled study.

Background: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is used empirically for the treatment of rhinitis and snoring and is thought to increase pharyngeal stability. This trial was designed to study the effects of this treatment on pharyngeal stability evaluated by critical closing pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Methods: This single-centre, randomized, crossover, double-blind study compared active manipulation and sham manipulation of the SPG.