Characteristics of Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy in the upper airway of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea at the ENT Department, Hai Phong International General Hospital from January 2024 to June 2025

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of upper airway endoscopy during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 16 patients with OSAS at Hai Phong International General Hospital. All patients underwent drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) to assess the location and pattern of airway obstruction. Results: The mean age was 37.31 ± 8.68 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1:4. The average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 42.89 ± 24.99 events/hour, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.35 ± 6.34 kg/m². All patients had at least one site of upper airway obstruction. The rate of multi-level obstruction was 68.75%. All patients (100%) had oropharyngeal collapse. The proportions of obstruction at other sites were: epiglottis 31.25%, nasal septal deviation 25%, adenoid hypertrophy 18.75%, lingual tonsil and inferior turbinate hypertrophy 12.5% each. Co-occurrence of septal deviation and oropharyngeal collapse, or oropharyngeal collapse with bilateral turbinate hypertrophy, adenoid hypertrophy, epiglottis collapse, or lingual tonsil hypertrophy, each accounted for 6.25%. Triple-site obstruction involving septum-oropharynx-base of tongue or septum-oropharynx-epiglottis was observed in 6.25% of patients, while velum-oropharynx-epiglottis obstruction was seen in 12.5%. Patients with multi-level collapse had higher AHI and BMI than those with isolated oropharyngeal obstruction. Conclusion: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an effective tool for evaluating upper airway obstruction in the management of obstructive sleep apnea.