OBJECTIVE Altitude can affect the diagnostic accuracy of portable monitors used to diagnose suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on the basis of oxygen desaturation measurements. The aim of this study was to determine agreement between the desaturation index measured by oximetry and the apnea-hypopnea index measured by polysomnography in Mexico City (2240 m above sea level). We also wishe...

We have studied response times of 30 anaesthetists to a standardized episode of arterial oxygen desaturation in a simulated patient, randomized to the use of either a fixed or variable pitch pulse oximeter. We wished to determine if a variable auditory signal was important in detecting adverse events. A variable pitch pulse signal had a shorter time to recognition of desaturation (P < 0.0001), ...

For cardiopulmonary bypass during open-heart surgery we use a bubble oxygenator and a technique of haemodilution and moderate hypothermia. During the course of routine perfusion we have observed arterial desaturation in a number of patients and in five patients the desaturation was marked (SaO2<85%)'. The low arterial oxygen saturations occurred mainly in the rewarming period. This report is of...

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop progressive ventilatory muscle weakness and often die of respiratory complications. Recurrent, often profound, hypoxaemia has been shown in a previous study by this group to occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in these patients before they develop sleep symptoms. In this study the efficacy and physiological effects of nocturnal oxygen in...

INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by a loss of neuromuscular tone of the upper airway dilator muscles while asleep. This study investigated the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in patients with OSA. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a randomised, sham-controlled crossover trial using transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the upper airway dilator...

Patients who arrive at the dental office with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are often managed with a mandibular advancement device (MAD). However, the use of MADs has been associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. The authors describe a case report of a 64-year-old male who was treated with a novel, maxillary oral appliance. The baseline sleep study indicated an apnea...