Properties of the upper airway during sleep.

Research efforts to date have identified that both anatomic and physiologic variables may contribute to the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea. Whether specific factors within either of these two categories will be shown to predominate remains to be seen. Surely, experience with sleep apnea patients teaches us that different variables are important in different OSA patients. In the area of anatomy, investigators are just beginning to try surgical approaches designed specifically for the pharyngeal site of obstruction found in a given patient. Possible new physiologic and pharmacologic treatments are being explored. Hopefully, such treatments will be as effective and more convenient than continuous positive airway pressure.