The elephant in the room: critical management studies conferences as a site of body pedagogics

This article explores conferences as an inter-corporeal space wherein body pedagogics are enacted, enabling the acquisition of techniques, skills and dispositions that allow newcomers to demonstrate their proficiency as members of a culture. The bodies of conference participants constitute the surface onto which culture is inscribed, these normalizing practices enabling academic power relations to be constructed and identities internalized. An autoethnographic analysis of critical management studies (CMS) conferences forms the basis for identification of the bodily dispositions of control and endurance which characterize the proficient CMS academic. The article considers the potential silencing effects associated with these practices that generate a between-men culture that excludes difference and reinforces patriarchal values. It concludes by reviewing the implications of body pedagogics for understanding how other organizational cultures are constructed

Towards a clinical classification system for position-dependent obstructive sleep apnea

In this chapter, we discuss the various definitions of position-dependent obstructive apnea. The first was introduced in 1984 by Cartwright, who suggested that physicians should differentiate between patients with either positional (POSA) or non-positional obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment of POSA has advanced dramatically recently with the introduction of a new generation of positional therapy (PT), a small device attached to either the neck or chest which corrects the patient from adopting the supine position through a vibrating stimulus. Encouraging data have been published suggesting that this simple therapy successfully prevents patients with POSA from adopting the supine position without negatively influencing sleep efficiency, as well as allowing for good adherence. Unfortunately, evaluating the efficacy of PT and comparing results are hindered by the fact that there are no universally used POSA criteria. In this chapter a new classification system is discussed called the Amsterdam Positional OSA Classification (APOC) aimed at identifying suitable candidates for PT: patients who will benefit from a clinically, significant improvement of their OSA with PT. The shared use of this classification can facilitate collection of data across multiple centres and comparison of results across studies

Introduction

This book aims to bring the reader to the revelation that body position is important in the aetiology of sleep-disordered breathing. This aspect of its aetiology has been neglected and overlooked for too long. Positional-dependent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be treated effectively with new forms of positional therapy. I hope the reader will recognize that there is much room for improvement in diagnosis and treatment of OSA. This book will provide the reader with the tools to implement positional therapy in clinical practice. I hope it will serve as motivation for fantastic presentations and inspiring manuscripts on well-conducted research

Floppy epiglottis during drug-induced sleep endoscopy: an almost complete resolution by adopting the lateral posture

Purpose: To analyze the presence of a floppy epiglottis (FE) during drug-induced sleep endoscopy in non-apneic snoring patients, non-positional obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients (NPP), and position-dependent OSA patients (PP) and to evaluate the impact of maneuvers and body position during drug-induced sleep endoscopy, including jaw thrust and supine and lateral head (and trunk) position. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Results: In total, 324 patients were included. In 60 patients (18.5%), a FE was found in supine position: seven non-apneic snoring patients and 53 OSA patients. When performing lateral head rotation only, a FE was present in four patients (NPP, N = 0; PP, N = 4). When patients were tilted to both lateral head and trunk position, a FE was found in only one subject. After applying jaw thrust, a FE was still present in 10 patients. The prevalence of a FE did not differ between NPP and PP. When comparing baseline characteristics between patients with and without a FE in supine position, no significant differences were found. Conclusion: A FE appears almost exclusively in supine position. In patients with a FE, positional therapy can be a promising alternative as a standalone treatment, but also as part of combination therapy with for example mandibular advancement devices or less invasive forms of upper airway surgery