Abstract
Background
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) may result in an increase in central venous pressure, which may contribute to pharyngeal narrowing by fluid accumulation in nuchal and peripharyngeal soft tissues and therefore affect obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Purpose
This study aimed to clarify the impact of acute PE on the severity of sleep-disordered breathing in OSA patients.
Methods
Polysomnography (PSG) was performed in 15 OSA patients shortly after acute PE and again after 3 months of sufficient anticoagulation therapy. OSA remained untreated meanwhile.
Results
Acute PE did not significantly affect the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI).
Conclusion
The diagnosis of OSA is representative in acute PE, as the transient increase of central venous pressure seems not to affect the AHI once the patients are clinical stable for PSG.
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Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the excellent assistance of Mrs. Tanja Wagner during the preparation and execution of the study.
Conflict of interest
All authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Berghaus, T.M., Faul, C., Unterer, F. et al. Acute pulmonary embolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: does it affect the severity of sleep-disordered breathing?. Sleep Breath 16, 1267–1269 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0633-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0633-7