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Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

Thomas J. Hansen, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is defined as repetitive episodes of cessation of airflow (apnea) through the nose and mouth during sleep due to obstruction at the level of the pharynx

    • ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Elicit a complete history of daytime and nighttime symptoms. Symptoms can be insidious and may have been present for years.

  • Daytime symptoms

    • Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or fatigu...

TREATMENT

  • Lifestyle modification: weight loss, exercise, and avoidance of alcohol, smoking, and sedatives, especially before bedtime.

  • Weight loss decreases the severity of symptoms in obese. Lifestyle ...

ONGOING CARE

Lifelong compliance with weight loss or CPAP is necessary. 

DIET

Overweight patients should be encouraged to lose weight. 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Weight loss and avoidance of alcohol and sedatives...

REFERENCES

1
Kapur  VK, Auckley  DH, Chowdhuri  S, et al. Clinical practice guideline for diagnostic testing for adult obstructive sleep apnea: an American Academy of Sleep Medi...

CODES

ICD10

  • G47.33 Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)

  • G47.30 Sleep apnea, unspecified

SNOMED

  • 78275009 Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

  • 230493001 Mixed sleep apnea

  • 1091000119108 Obstructive sleep ap...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • OSA is characterized by repetitive episodes of apnea often terminating in a snort/gasp.

  • Laboratory PSG is the key to diagnosis.

  • CPAP is the most effective form of treatment for both mild...

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