RT Journal
A1 Kuna ST
T1 A 54-year-old man with obstructive sleep apnea
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2002
FD October 23
VO 288
IS 16
SP 2032
OP 2039
DO 10.1001/jama.288.16.2032
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.16.2032
AB 
In 1995, Mr J's wife noted that he stopped breathing at night. Mr J
also recalled that he awoke, on occasion, in the middle of the night with
palpitations. He mentioned this to his primary care physician, Dr M, who referred
him for a sleep study. The study revealed 206 obstructive events, giving an
apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of 36 per hour. He had oxygen desaturation to a
nadir of 74%. Based on these results, his pulmonologist recommended that Mr
J proceed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration.
The results of his CPAP study showed that 5 to 6 cm of water pressure eliminated
the obstructive events and oxygen desaturation. Mr J seemed to have some difficulty
falling asleep with the mask, but overall it appeared to be well tolerated
during both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep.