Description of Research Expertise:
Dr. Schwab’s research has focused on the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea utilizing novel upper airway imaging techniques. His studies help elucidate the role of the motion of key structures of the upper airway in mediating airway closure. By examining dynamic state-related changes in the upper airway and soft tissue structures surrounding the upper airway he has begun to understand the biomechanics of apneic events. He has studied patients with both magnetic resonance imaging and electronic beam computed tomography during wakefulness and sleep. Several novel findings have resulted from these studies: 1) the anatomic significance of the lateral pharyngeal walls in mediating airway caliber in normals and apneics; and 2) the characterization of the changes in upper airway caliber during the respiratory cycle and the importance of end-expiratory airway narrowing. Dr. Schwab collaborates closely with members of the Departments of Radiology and Biomechanical and Computer Engineering. They have developed state-of-the-art, computer graphics-based analysis software to help model in three dimensions the biomechanical interrelationships between the soft tissue structures and the upper airway.
Selected Publications:
Magalang, UJ, Arnardottir, ES, Chen, NH, Cistulli, PA, Gislason, T, Lim, D, Penzel T, Schwab, RJ, Tufik, S, and Pack, AI: Agreement in the Scoring of Respiratory Events Among International Sleep Centers for Home Sleep Testing Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 12 (1): 71-77,2016.
Chiffer, RC, Schwab, RJ, Keenan, BT, Borek, RC, Thaler, ER: Volumetric MRI Analysis Pre and Post Transoral Robotic Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA-TORS) The Laryngoscope : 2015 (in press).
Rodgers, ZB, , Leinwand SE, Keenan BT, Kini LG, Schwab RJ, Wehrli FW: Cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) in obstructive sleep apnea at rest and in response to breath-hold challenge Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism : 2015 (in press).
Schwab, RJ, Kim, C, Bagchi, S, Keenan, BT, Comyn, FL, Wang, S, Tapia, IE, Huang, S, Traylor, J, Torigian, DA, Bradford, RM, Marcus, CL: Understanding the Anatomic Basis for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Adolescents Am J Respir Crit Care Med 191 (11): 1295-1309,2015.
Pisani, MA, Friese, RS, Gehlbach, BK, Schwab, RJ, Weinhouse, GL, Jones, SF: Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit Am J Respir Crit Care Med 191 (7): 731-738,2015.
Kim, A, Keenan, BT, Jackson, N, Chan, EL, Staley, B, Poptani, H, Torigian, DA, Pack, AI, Schwab, RJ: Tongue Fat and its Relationship to Obstructive Sleep Apnea SLEEP 37 (10): 1639-1648,2014.
Chi, L, Comyn, FL, Keenan, BT, Cater, J, Maislin, G, Pack, AI, Schwab, RJ: Heritability of Craniofacial Structures in Normal Subjects and Patients with Sleep Apnea SLEEP 37 (10): 1689-1698,2014.
Kauta, SR, Keenan, BT, Goldberg, L, Schwab, RJ: Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Hospitalized Cardiac Patients: A Reduction in 30-Day Hospital Readmission Rates J Clin Sleep Med 10 (10): 1051-9,2014.
Sands, SA, Eckert, DJ, Jordan, AS, Edwards, BA, Owens, RL, Butler, JP, Schwab, RJ, Loring, SH, Malhotra, A, White, DP, Wellman, A: Enhanced Upper-airway Muscle Responsiveness is a Distinct Feature of Overweight/Obese Individuals Without Sleep Apnea Am J Respir Crit Care Med 190 (8): 930-7,2014.
Keenan BT, Maislin G, Sunwoo BY, Arnardottir ES, Jackson N, Olafsson I, Juliusson S, Scwab RJ, Gislason T, Benedikstdottir B, Pack AI: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment and Fasting Lipids: A Comparative Effectiveness Study Eur Respir J 44 (2): 405-14,2014.