Analyse tridimensionnelle des os craniofaciaux et des tissus mous dans l'apnée obstructive du sommeil utilisant la tomographie volumétrique à faisceau conique

A total of 154 adult patients with sleep complaints underwent a polysomnography and a craniofacial cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). OSA was defined as an apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) or an oxygen desaturation index (ODI) + or = 10. Soft tissues and craniofacial bones volumes were prospectively measured by CBCT and collected blindly from sleep polysomnography. Among the study patients, 127 (83%) suffered from OSA and 27 (17%) did not. OSA patients demonstrated a narrower maxillo-palatine core volume (11.7 + or - 3.2 vs 14.6 + or - 4.9 cm3) even when adjusting for age, gender, height, neck circumference and body mass index. These upper airway measures provide a comprehensive analysis of bony structures and soft tissues, which can be involved in OSA

Impact of the European Union directive on driving licences on a Multidisciplinary Sleep Clinic: a Cohort Study

Introduction: The threat of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) for motor vehicle accident has led to a revision of annex III of the European Union directive on driving licences that was implemented in all member states from December 31, 2015. In Belgium, it was followed by a shift in funding for OSA from January 1, 2017. Funding was allowed for moderate to severe OSA and the rules shifted for treatments delivery and monitoring by authorised medical opinion. Multidisciplinary Sleep Clinics have long existed, bringing together sleep specialists, dentists, orthodontists and surgeons. We aimed to assess whether a shift in treatment funding was associated with a change in the multidisciplinary sleep practice. Material and Methods: Sample consisted of all patients discussed in the sleep multidisciplinary team meetings of the University Hospital of Liege from January 2016 to December 2018. Interrupted times series, Mann-Whitney U tests and descriptive statistics were produced. Results: There were no differences in patients age, male sex preponderance, body mass index, clinical presentation and level of obstruction. Baseline OSA severity was significantly lower (mean apnea-hypopnea index and mean oxygen desaturation index lowered respectively with p = 0.0189 and p = 0.0466) after the funding rules changed. Oral appliance and ENT surgery were more often offered after the shift in funding. Conclusion: Sleep multidisciplinary team meeting changed patient selection and management after the implementation of the new funding rules for OSA. The shift in funding often resulted in treatment options change, reaching more people and offering more options