Effect of back-up head-elevated position during drug-induced sleep endoscopy in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

The back-up head-elevated position with a 45° upward inclination improved upper airway obstruction during DISE in velum anteroposterior collapse and velum concentric collapse. The proportion of patients with amelioration of upper airway collapse was much higher in patients with mild OSA than in patients with moderate to severe OSA. The back-up head-elevated position may be a reasonable alternative to traditional positional therapy for certain subgroups of patients with OSA.