Dynamic Inspiratory Oropharyngeal Obstruction in Children With Obstructive Sleep‐Disordered Breathing: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Practitioner Points Dynamic inspiratory oropharyngeal obstruction may be characterized based on an increase in severity of obstruction during the inspiratory phase relative to the expiratory phase. Dynamic inspiratory oropharyngeal obstruction during drug‐induced sleep endoscopy was observed in 25% of the pediatric sample of patients with obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. Patients with larger tonsils were more likely to experience dynamic inspiratory oropharyngeal obstruction. Patients with severe adenoid obstruction were more likely to experience dynamic inspiratory oropharyngeal obstruction. Findings suggest that obstruction at proximal airway sites, e.g., adenoids, can affect dynamic inspiratory obstruction at more distal sites, e.g., oropharynx.