Müller's maneuver

Müller's Manoeuvre

After a forced expiration, an attempt at inspiration is made with closed mouth and nose or closed glottis, whereby the negative pressure in the chest and lungs is made very subatmospheric; the reverse of Valsalva manoeuvre.

This technique is designed to look for collapsed sections of airways such as the trachea. In this maneuver, the patient attempts to inhale with his mouth closed and his nostrils plugged, which leads to collapse of the airway. By witnessing the collapse, the doctor can identify weakened sections of the airway. Müller's maneuver is used to help determine the cause of sleep apnea. This maneuver is very helpful in doing MRI for sleep apnoea, when sedation to patient can be avoided.