Validity of sleep nasendoscopy in the investigation of sleep related breathing disorders.

OBJECTIVE To validate the technique of sleep nasendoscopy using target controlled infusion in symptomatic patients and a control group of asymptomatic individuals. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and anesthesia in a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Two groups of patients were compared and matched for their body mass index. The first group consisted of 53 patients with a history suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea. The second group consisted of 54 patients with partner-confirmed history of no snoring. These patients were undergoing anesthesia for other reasons. Both groups of patients were free of associated otorhinolaryngologic symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Assessment of production of snoring or obstruction in patients with no documented history of snoring when sedation was administered as part of general anesthesia using target controlled infusion with propofol. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS None of the patients in the asymptomatic group snored or obstructed at any level of propofol, and this was clearly significant on comparison with the symptomatic group (P < .001). All of the symptomatic patients were induced to become symptomatic (snoring/obstruction).