Ding Xia1, Elan J. Grossman1, D
M. Rapoport2, I Ayappa2, A V. Patel2, L
Daugherty3, Jian Xu1, Kelly Anne Mcgorty1,
Qun Chen1
1Center for Biomedical Imaging,
Department of Radiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, United States; 2Division
of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York,
United States; 3Department of Radiology, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
The
purpose of the current study is to use a real-time MRI technique for
measuring lung volume changes caused by using a nasal expiratory positive
airway pressure (nEPAP) device, a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA). This may help us better understand the mechanism by which it treats
OSA. Our results show there is an increase in functional reserve capacity
(FRC) while using the nEPAP device. Since end-expiratory hyperinflation is
likely to produce increased traction in the trachea, this suggests the main
action of the nasal expiratory device may be to stiffen the upper airway
through increased longitudinal traction.
Keywords