[Treatment with continuous positive nasal pressure in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
BACKGROUND
The collapse of the soft tissues of the upper airway during sleep is decisive in the pathogenesis of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The administration of an air flow of adjustable pressure through the nose is efficient to overcome the obstruction and favor respiration without apnea.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were treated with continuous positive pressure of the upper airway with the aim of evaluating the effect of this treatment on sleep, respiration and cardiac rhythm following the first night of treatment.


RESULTS
Following the night of treatment an increase of the III, IV states and sleep REM with a shortening of REM latency was observed. The number of apneas diminished drastically thus improving cardiac arrhythmias detected in the basal study.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of the upper airway with continuous positive pressure is efficient not only for the correction of apneas and cardiac arrhythmia but also for the consolidation of a normal sleep cycle.
Pareja
J A
JA
Hospital del INSALUD de Llerena, Badajoz.
Moore
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012119:Respiration; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012895:Sleep, REM
Tratamiento con presión nasal positiva continua del síndrome de apnea obstructiva del sueño.