Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Women

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is underdiagnosed in women, probably due to the different gender-related manifestation. We investigated the differences in presentation, symptoms and co-morbidities of SDB in men and in pre- and postmenopausal women by a clinical, retrospective, cross-sectional study of 601 consecutively referred women and 233 age- and BMI-matched male-female pairs studied with the static-chargesensitive bed (SCSB) and an oximeter. Data on the use of nasal CPAP were gathered from the Paimio hospital database, and the co-morbidity information was based on reimbursed medication data from the National Agency for Medicines and the Social Insurance institution. The abnormal breathing episodes at night were more frequent in men than in women, and in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal ones. Partial upper airway obstruction was the most common type of SDB in both genders but especially in females. BMI and the major symptoms of SDB were similar in pre- and postmenopausal women, and a menopause effect on symptoms was not found. CPAP adherence did not differ between symptomatic patients with partial upper airway obstruction and those presenting with conventional obstructive sleep apnea. Comorbidities were more frequent in SDB patients than in the general Finnish population. Compared to sleep apnea, partial upper airway obstruction was associated with a threefold prevalence of asthma and/or COPD in both genders, and with a 60% reduced prevalence of hypertension in females matched for age and BMI. Our results emphasize that partial upper airway obstruction is not a milder form of SDB but a different entity, the severity of which is underestimated when using the conventional apnea-hypopnea index. It seems clinically relevant to diagnose and treat the co-morbidities and SDB also in patients with partial upper airway obstruction, especially in elderly and symptomatic women.

Objective Evaluation of Nasal Dimensions in Children with Acoustic Rhinometry

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the usefulness of acoustic rhinometry in the evaluation of intranasal dimensions in children. The aim was to define reference values for school children. In addition, the role of the VAS scale in the subjective evaluation of nasal obstruction in children was studied. Materials and methods: Measurements were done with Acoustic Rhinometry A1. The values of special interest were the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and the anterior volume of the nose (VOL). The data for reference values included 124 voluntary school children with no permanent nasal symptoms, aged between 7 and 14 years. Data were collected at baseline and after decongestion of the nose; the VAS scale was filled in before measurements. The subjects in the follow-up study (n=74, age between 1 and 12 years) were receiving intranasal spray of insulin or placebo. The nasal symptoms were recorded and acoustic rhinometry was measured at each control visit. Results: In school children, the mean total MCA was 0.752 cm2 (SD 0.165), and the mean total VOL was 4.00 cm3 (SD 0.63) at baseline. After decongestion, a significant increase in the mean TMCA and in the mean TVOL was found. A correlation was found between TMCA and age, and between TVOL and height of a child. There was no difference between boys and girls. A correlation was found between unilateral acoustic values and VAS at baseline, but not after decongestion. No difference wasfound in acoustic values or symptoms between the insulin and placebo group in the follow-up study of two years. Conclusions: Acoustic rhinometry is a suitable objective method to examine intranasal dimensions in children. It is easy to perform and well tolerated. Reference values for children between 7 and 14 years were established.

Sydämen vajaatoiminnasta johtuvan keuhkoödeemapotilaan ensihoidossa tarvittava tiedollinen osaaminen - kirjallisuuskatsaus

Tämän opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli selvittää kirjallisuuskatsauksen avulla, mitä tiedollista osaamista ensihoitaja tarvitsee hoitaessaan sydämen vajaatoiminnasta johtuvaa keuhkoödeemapotilasta. Sydämen vajaatoimintaa sairastavien potilaiden määrä kasvaa ja sairaalahoidot lisääntyvät jatkuvasti. Keuhkoödeema on sydämen vajaatoiminnasta johtuva pahenemismuoto jonka hoitaminen on vaativaa ja kuolleisuus on korkea. Aineisto kerättiin sosiaali- ja terveysalan tietokannoista muutamilla hakusanoilla, joista valinta ja poissulkukriteerien avulla valittiin 11 artikkelia sekä käsihauilla 9 muuta lähdettä. Valitut aineistot analysoitiin käyttämällä induktiivista teorianmuodostustapaa. Tulosten perusteella voidaan päätellä, että sydämen vajaatoiminnasta johtuvan keuhkoödeeman hoito vaatii laajaa tiedollista osaamista. Ensihoitajan tulee tuntea keuhkojen- ja verenkierron anatomia, sydämen vajaatoiminnan ja keuhkoödeeman syntymekanismit, hallita potilaan tutkiminen ja haastattelu sekä potilaan hengityksen ja verenkierron arviointi. Potilaan hoitamisessa tiedollista osaamista vaaditaan hengityksen ja verenkierron hoidosta, esimerkiksi hengitystiepainehoidosta sekä lääke- ja nestehoidosta. Keuhkoödeemapotilaan sairaalan ulkopuolinen ensihoito ei viimeisten kahdenkymmenen vuoden aikana ole merkittävästi muuttunut, vaikka ensihoito muuten on kehittynyt suurin harppauksin. Keuhkoödeemapotilaan ensihoitoon ei ole juurikaan tullut uusia tutkimus- tai hoitomenetelmiä. CPAP- hoito on edelleen keuhkoödeemanpotilaan hoidon kulmakivi.

Airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea and partial upper airway obstruction during sleep

This study analyzed the feasibility and efficacy of surgical therapies in patients with sleep-disordered breathing ranging from partial upper airway obstruction during sleep to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The surgical procedures evaluated were tracheostomy, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LUPP) and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with laser or ultrasound scalpel. Obstructive sleep apnea and partial upper airway obstruction during sleep were measured with the static charge-sensitive bed (SCSB) and pulse oximeter. The patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were treated with tracheostomy. Palatal surgery was performed only if the upper airway narrowing occurred exclusively at the soft palate level in patients with partial upper airway obstruction during sleep. The ultrasound scalpel technique was compared to laser-assisted UPPP. The efficacy of LUPP to reduce partial upper airway obstruction during sleep was assessed and histology of uvulopalatal specimen was compared to body fat distributional parameters and sleep study findings. Tracheostomy was effective therapy in severe obstructive sleep apnea. Partial upper airway obstruction and arterial oxyhemoglobin desaturation index during sleep decreased significantly after LUPP. The minimal retropalatal airway dimension increased and soft palate collapsibility decreased at the level where the velopharyngeal obstruction had occurred before the surgery. Ultrasound scalpel did not offer any significant benefits over the laser-assisted technique, except fewer postoperative haemorrhage events. The loose connective tissue as a manifestation of edema was the only histological finding showing correlation with partial upper airway obstruction parameters of SCSB. Tracheostomy remains a life-saving therapy and also long-term option when adherence to CPAP fails in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. LUPP effectively reduces partial upper airway obstruction during sleep provided that obstruction at the other levels than the soft palate and uvula were preoperatively excluded. Technically the ultrasound scalpel or laser surgeries are equal. In patients with partial upper airway obstruction the loose connective tissue is more important than fat accumulation in the soft palate. This supports the hypothesis that edema is a primary trigger for aggravation of upper airway narrowing during sleep at the soft palate level and evolution towards partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep.