The Nose and Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Abstract

The influence of nasal obstruction on the pathogenesis of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has not yet been clearly defined. Similarly, a lack of data about the long-term effect of nasal surgery on snoring and obstructive sleep apnea keeps discussion of this topic controversial. This special issue of Sleep and Breathing presents four review articles that try to elucidate the complex interrelationship between the nose and SDB. An outstanding review article opens our eyes to the fascinating palette of the activities of nitric oxide, focusing on its inseparable connection to obstructive sleep apnea. Another summarizes data on the role of the nose in the pathophysiology of SDB and the slow progress concerning rhinologic treatments for SDB. The part of nose in the diagnostics of SDB is treated in a third article that also focuses on acoustic reflectometry as the newest technical development in the diagnostics of SDB. The last article elucidates the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on the nasal passages including the authors’ own data on the relatively poor long-term compliance of nasal continuous positive airway pressure.