[nCPAP therapy does not affect respiratory mechanics of patients with sleep-related respiratory disturbances].
We investigated in patients with sleep disordered breathing the influence of long-term nCPAP-therapy on airway mechanics and capillary blood gases. 109 patients (19 women, 90 men, age [mean +/- standard deviation] 59 +/- 10 years, apnea-hypopnea-index 34 +/- 24/h) were treated for 27 +/- 33 months, with a mean pressure of 7.7 +/- 2 mbar, mean usage 5.6 +/- 1.9 h/night. Vital capacity, FEV1, thoracic gas volume and capillary blood gases did not change during therapy, irrespective of the smoking history. However, in a subgroup of 6 patients who were hypoxemic before therapy, there was a significant increase of PaO2 from 63 +/- 4 to 70 +/- 6 mm Hg (p < 0.01). Neither the height of the pressure nor the duration of therapy did influence the course of lung function data.
Hein
H
H
Zentrum für Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie, Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf. Holger.Hein@t-online.de
Magnussen
H
H
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010991:Plethysmography; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D013147:Spirometry
D010100:Oxygen