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Obstructive sleep apnea in a laryngectomy patient: “External obstructive sleep apnea”

„Externe obstruktive Sehlafapnoe“ — Obstruktive Schlafapnoe nach Laryngektomie

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Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed in a man after a total laryngectomy. Excessive daytime sleepiness led to a diagnostic investigation. He had occlusion of the tracheal stoma while asleep by his chin and neck structures. This “external” obstructive sleep apnea caused repetitive desaturations and arousals typical of sleep apnea. Therapeutic measures to keep the chin off the stoma were successful in preventing the apneas with complete symptom relief. This is the first case of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome occurring from an obstruction external to the airway.

Zusammenfassung

Bei einem 67jährigen Patienten wurde nach totaler Laryngektomie obstruktive Schlafapnoe diagnostiziert. Exzessive Tagesschläfrigkeit war der Anlaß für die Untersuchung gewesen. Im Schlaf wurde sein Tracheaistoma vom Kinn und den Halsstrukturen obstruiert. Diese „externe“ obstruktive Schlafapnoe verursachte die für das Syndrom typischen wiederholten Sauerstoffuntersättigungen und Arousals. Nachdem das Kinn durch entsprechende therapeutische Maßnahmen daran gehindert wurde, das Stoma zu obstruieren, unterblieben die Apnoen, und der Patient war von den entsprechenden Symptomen befreit. Dies ist der erste Fall von obstruktivem Schlafapnoesyndrom, das durch Obstruktion außerhalb des Atemwegs verursacht worden ist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Massachusetts

    M. P. Coppola, J. M. Evitts & M. S. Lawee

  2. Winmar, Diagnostics, Marblehead, Massachusetts

    M. P. Coppola, J. M. Evitts & M. S. Lawee

Authors
  1. M. P. Coppola
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  2. J. M. Evitts
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  3. M. S. Lawee
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Coppola, M.P., Evitts, J.M. & Lawee, M.S. Obstructive sleep apnea in a laryngectomy patient: “External obstructive sleep apnea”. Sleep Breath 1, 32–36 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03038944

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03038944

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