Sleep apnoea syndrome--a report of 14 cases.
Patients with sleep apnoea syndrome suffer considerable morbidity and an increased mortality. We reviewed the characteristics of 14 patients with sleep apnoea syndrome (11 males and 3 females) who were studied since 1986. All were less than or equal to 60 years of age with the majority in their 4th and 5th decade. Obesity was present in 8 patients (57%) and hypertension in 6 (43%). Overnight sleep studies showed that 11 patients had obstructive sleep apnoea, 2 had central and one had predominantly mixed sleep apnoea. Ten patients (71%) had some form of nose and/or throat pathology. Tonsillectomy seemed an effective therapeutic procedure in those with upper airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils. Four out of 5 patients had significant symptomatic improvement post-tonsillectomy. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was also effective in alleviating apnoeas and relieving symptoms in 4 other patients who had no obvious upper airway obstruction. A high proportion of our patients had obstructive sleep apnoea due to enlarged tonsils. Tonsillectomy offered a simple and effective therapy for such patients. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was also effective in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Cheong
T H
TH
Department of Medicine III, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
Wang
Y T
YT
Poh
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy