Abstract
Sleep apnea syndrome belongs to a large diverse group of disorders called Sleep Disorders. It is further divided into other units from the point of view of etiology and pathogenesis.
For ENT specialization, the subgroup of Respiratory Disorders is important in terms of diagnosis and treatment options, with sleep, where various clinical units are included. Of these, the focus of ENT is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA), which occurs in adult patients and children.
Diagnosis is focused on the passage of the upper respiratory tract (anatomical-developmental nasal cavity during the paranasal sinuses), the nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx (so-called "Cross area" - the area common to the respiratory and swallowing tract) and larynx (anatomical lower respiratory tract). The aim of the ENT examination is to find possible anatomical obstacles or narrowing, which can be expected to contribute to respiratory failure.
In the nasal cavity we can expect, for example, deviation of the nasal septum, hypertrophy of the nasal mucosa, polyps, in the pharynx adenoid vegetation, hypertrophy of the storey tonsils, soft palate, uvula, tongue roots. In no case can the possibility of the occurrence of a tumor, even malignant, lesion be neglected in these localities.
You can divide the ENT examination into general (basic, standard) and special. It is definitely not necessary to discuss the general examination in detail.
Includes anamnesis and examination - alters endoscopic, of the above sites. The special examination includes techniques that provide additional information about the pathology in the ENT finding, helping to make better decisions about the method of surgical therapy.
We are constantly changing new instrumental, laboratory and testing methods in this area.