Abstract
The physiologic changes that occur in ventilation during sleep contribute to nocturnal oxygen desaturation in those with lung disease. Nocturnal supplemental oxygen is often used as therapy, although convincing data exist only for those who are hypoxemic both during sleep and wake. Ongoing trials may help address whether oxygen should be used in those with only desaturation during sleep. If used, oxygen should be dosed as needed, and patients should be monitored for hypercapnia. Because of its prevalence, obstructive sleep apnea may commonly overlap with lung disease in many patients and have important consequences. Patients with overlap syndromes may be good candidates for noninvasive ventilation during sleep.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Robert L Owens MD, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston MA 02115. E-mail: rowens{at}partners.org.
Dr Owens presented a version of this paper at the 50th Respiratory Care Journal Conference, “Oxygen,” held April 13–14, 2012, in San Francisco, California.
The author has disclosed no conflicts of interest.
↵* Joseph S Lewarski RRT FAARC, Invacare, Elyria, Ohio.
↵† David J Pierson MD FAARC, Emeritus, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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