Diagnosis and treatment of the central type of sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders require special attention because they can have serious psycho-behavioral, cardiovascular, metabolic consequences and can influence the intellectual performance and social relationships. The central type of sleep apnea syndrome represents a set of signs and symptoms caused by stops (apnea) or slow downs (hypopnea) of respiratory flow during sleep caused by central nervous system disorders (respiratory center) with a frequency of more than 5 episodes per hour and lasting more than 10 seconds. Considering the consequences it has on the body, the SAS diagnosed patient requires a multidisciplinary approach: ENT, pneumology, neurology, cardiology, and psychiatry. Materials and methods: Relevant articles on the topic for the period from 2000 to 2014 were analyzed, using PubMed data base and other sources. Results: The central type of sleep apnea syndrome is found more often in patients with heart failure, of which 20-30% at the patients with systolic heart failure. 10% of all patients with sleep apnea syndrome, registered at the study of sleep laboratories, present central type of apnea. (PSG) is the most informative and base method in diagnosis of sleep apnea, fact confirmed by practice. The best method of treatment has proved CPAP-therapy (continuous positive airway pressure). In the modern treatment is used auto-CPAP-therapy witch allows automatic recording and dosing of the inspired air flow. Conclusion: We determined the following aspects: 1. The central type of sleep apnea syndrome is very dangerous to patients’ lives caused by the mechanism of production and more complications after hypoxia; 2. Polysomnography represents the screening of the central type of sleep apnea syndrome; 3. Auto-CPAP-therapy and CPAP-therapy are the most effective methods of treatment.