The effect of rapid maxillary expansion on pharyngeal airway pressure during inspiration evaluated using computational fluid dynamics.

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is an effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with maxillary constriction. Nonetheless, the effect of RME on pharyngeal airway pressure during inspiration is not clear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate changes induced by the RME in ventilation conditions using computational fluid dynamics.

Methods: Twenty-five subjects (14 boys, 11 girls; mean age 9.7 years) who required RME had cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images taken before and after the RME. The CBCT data were used to reconstruct 3-dimensional shapes of nasal and pharyngeal airways. Measurement of airflow pressure was simulated using computational fluid dynamics for calculating nasal resistance during exhalation. This value was used to assess maximal negative pressure in the pharyngeal airway during inspiration.

Results: Nasal resistance after RME, 0.137 Pa/(cm(3)/s), was significantly lower than that before RME, 0.496 Pa/(cm(3)/s), and the maximal negative pressure in the pharyngeal airway during inspiration was smaller after RME (-48.66 Pa) than before (-124.96 Pa).

Conclusion: Pharyngeal airway pressure during inspiration is decreased with the reduction of nasal resistance by the RME. This mechanism may contribute to the alleviation of OSAS in children.