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How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea treated?
Therapy is directed toward correction of the upper airway obstruction (which can result from anatomic factors or abnormal relaxation of the musculature of the oropharynx).
Administration of PAP by means of a nasal mask is currently the most frequently used therapeutic modality.
Surgical procedures are often the first line of treatment in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. In rare cases, surgery may be helpful when a discrete structural abnormality producing airway obstruction can be identified.
In mild cases, significant improvement is achieved by preventing sleep in the supine position or by elevation of the head and trunk (positional therapy).
Tongue-retaining devices and other oral appliances may be beneficial in a small number of instances, particularly when the respiratory disturbance is mild.
Weight loss is often beneficial in patients who are morbidly obese.
Sources
- Aurora R, Lamm C, Zak R, et al.: Practice parameters for the non-respiratory indications for polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing for children. Sleep 35(11):1467-1473, 2012.
- Aurora N, Zak R, Karippot A, et al.: Practice parameters for the respiratory indications for polysomnography in children. Sleep 34(3):379-388, 2011.
- Kushida, C, Littner M, Morgenthaler T, et al.: Practice parameters for the indications for polysomnography and related procedures: an update for 2005. Sleep 28(4):499-521, 2005.
- Veasey SC, Guilleminault C, Strohl KP, et al.: Medical therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: a review by the Medical Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Task Force of the Standards of Practice Committee of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep 29(8):1036-1044, 2006.
