title: Management of obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: Although the indications for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea are controversial, there is general agreement that treatment is warranted in patients with a combined apnea and hypopnea frequency of 20 events per hour of sleep. General therapeutic measures include abstinence from alcohol and weight loss in obese patients. A minority of patients with specific abnormalities of the nose, pharynx, or jaw may require surgical management. In the absence of specific upper airway abnormalities, the most effective treatment is nasal continuous positive airway pressure or, if necessary, bilevel positive airway pressure during sleep. The role of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty remains controversial, due in part to the reported variability in long-term efficacy of this procedure. Drug therapy may be effective in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Laboratory, St. Boniface Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kryger
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*