BI-LEVEL POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA SYNDROME

We evaluated the effect of non-invasive nocturnal ventilation with the bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator in 13 overweight patients with verified obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and n octurnal hypercapnia. All patients exhibited subsequently less overnig ht CO2 accumulation (p < 0.0001), the desaturation event frequency was reduced (p < 0.002), daytime O-2 tension rose (p < 0.001), daytime CO 2 tension was reduced (p < 0.01), and apnoeas were eliminated. All sym ptoms characterising the syndrome, when present at the beginning of th e therapy, were eliminated during the treatment. Patient compliance wa s high. This study showed that OSAS patients with hypercapnia can be e ffectively treated by BiPAP ventilation during sleep.