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International audience; Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in individuals with OSA syndrome persisting despite good adherence to CPAP is a disabling condition. Pitolisant is a selective histamine H3-receptor antagonist with wake-promoting effects.Research question: Is pitolisant effective and safe for reducing daytime sleepiness in individuals with moderate to severe OSA adhering to CPAP treatment but experiencing residual EDS?Study design and methods: In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized (3:1), placebo-controlled, parallel-design trial, pitolisant was titrated individually at up to 20 mg/day and taken over 12 weeks. The primary end point was change in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score in the intention-to-treat population. Key secondary end points were maintenance of wakefulness assessed by the Oxford Sleep Resistance Test, Clinical Global Impressions scale of severity, the patient's global opinion, EuroQoL quality-of-life questionnaire score, Pichot fatigue questionnaire score, and safety.Results: Two hundred forty-four OSA participants (82.8% men; mean age, 53.1 years; mean Apnea Hypopnea Index with CPAP, 4.2/h; baseline ESS score, 14.7) were randomized to pitolisant (n = 183) or placebo (n = 61). ESS significantly decreased with pitolisant compared with placebo (-2.6; 95% CI, -3.9 to -1.4; P < .001), and the rate of responders to therapy (ESS ≤ 10 or change in ESS ≥ 3) was significantly higher with pitolisant (71.0% vs 54.1%; P = .013). Adverse event occurrence (mainly headache and insomnia) was higher in the pitolisant group compared with the placebo group (47.0% and 32.8%, respectively; P = .03). No cardiovascular or other significant safety concerns were reported.Interpretation: Pitolisant used as adjunct to CPAP therapy for OSA with residual sleepiness despite good CPAP adherence significantly reduced subjective and objective sleepiness and improved participant-reported outcomes and physician-reported disease severity.

Compared with invasive ventilation, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has two unique characteristics: its non-hermetic nature and the fact that the ventilator-lung assembly cannot be considered as a single-compartment model because of the presence of variable resistance represented by the upper airways. When NIV is initiated, the ventilator settings are determined empirically based on clinical evaluation and blood gas variations. However, NIV is predominantly applied during sleep. Consequently, to assess overnight patient-machine "agreement" and efficacy of ventilation, more specific and sophisticated monitoring is needed. The effectiveness of NIV might therefore be more correctly assessed by sleep studies than by daytime assessment. The simplest monitoring can be done from flow and pressure curves from the mask or the ventilator circuit. Examination of these tracings can give useful information to evaluate if the settings chosen by the operator were the right ones for that patient. However, as NIV allows a large range of ventilatory parameters and settings, it is mandatory to have information about this to better understand patient-ventilator interaction. Ventilatory modality, mode of triggering, pressurization slope, use or not of positive end expiratory pressure and type of exhalation as well as ventilator performances may all have physiological consequences. Leaks and upper airway resistance variations may, in turn, modify these patterns. This article discusses the equipment available for NIV, analyses the effect of different ventilator modes and settings and of exhalation and connecting circuits on ventilatory traces and gives the background necessary to understand their impact on nocturnal monitoring of NIV.

Background: Unintentional leaks, patient-ventilatory asynchrony, and obstructive or central events (either residual or induced by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation [NPPV]) occur in patients treated with NPPV, but the impact of ventilator settings on these disturbances has been little explored. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of backup respiratory rate (BURR) settings on the efficacy of ventilation, sleep structure, subjective sleep quality, and respiratory events in a group of patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). Methods: Ten stable patients with OHS treated with long-term nocturnal NPPV underwent polysomnographic recordings and transcutaneous capnography on 3 consecutive nights with three different settings for BURR in random order: spontaneous (S) mode, low BURR, and high BURR. No other ventilator parameter was modified. Results: The S mode was associated with the occurrence of a highly significant increase in respiratory events, mainly of central and mixed origin, when compared with both spontaneous/timed (S/T) modes. Accordingly, the oxygen desaturation index was significantly higher in the S mode than in either of the S/T modes. The results of nocturnal transcutaneous PCO 2 (PtcCO 2 ) (mean value and time spent with PtcCO 2 >50 mm Hg) were similar over the three consecutive nocturnal recordings. The quality of sleep was perceived as slightly better, and the number of perceived arousals as lower with the low- vs high-BURR (S/T) mode. Conclusions: In a homogenous group of patients treated with long-term NPPV for obesity-hypoventilation, changing BURR from an S/T mode with a high or low BURR to an S mode was associated with the occurrence of a highly significant increase in respiratory events, of mainly central and mixed origin. Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01130090; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. © 2013 American College of Chest Physicians.

La prevalence du syndrome d’apnees hypopnees du sommeil augmente avec l’âge, sans qu’on ait une explication claire du pourquoi de cette evolution. Ce chapitre passe en revue les modifications liees a l’âge survenant dans l’anatomie et la physiologie des voies aeriennes superieures, ainsi que dans la physiologie du sommeil, la fonction de l’appareil musculaire ou l’exposition a des medicaments hypnotiques ou antalgiques qui peuvent rendre compte de la plus forte prevalence de ce syndrome chez le sujet âge.

The physiology of sleep is not completely understood but it is widely accepted that sleep is important to the human body in the recovery of metabolic and neurological processes. This paper summarizes the effects of sleep dysfunction on different systems and considers implications in the context of rehabilitation. When sleep is experimentally completely or partially curtailed important brain functions are impacted leading to psychological and neurological disturbances. Increased cortisol levels, reduction of glucose tolerance, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity have also been identified in healthy subjects under such conditions. Several studies show that 50-80% of patients with chronic pain suffer from sleep dysfunction. It has been suggested that on the one hand pain can cause sleep dysfunction and on the other hand that sleep dysfunction can aggravate pain. The physiologic mechanism behind this interaction is not completely clear; although most authors describe the relationship between pain and sleep dysfunction as aberrant processing of tactile-cutaneous sensory inputs at the meso-encephalic level and in the trigeminal nucleus both when asleep and awake. Decreased duration of sleep also increases heart rate, blood pressure and sympathetic activity magnifying the individual's response to stressful stimuli. Possible causal mechanisms for the established connection between short sleep cycles and coronary pathology include sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, increased blood pressure increase or reduced glucose tolerance. Finally, sleep and fatigue have traditionally been linked. Fatigue can have a physical etiology but is also associated with depression. Sleep alterations are also considered an important risk factor for psychological dysfunction and also mental illness. However, despite the noted repercussions of sleep dysfunction, studies investigating interventions to improve sleep have been limited in number. Benefits of exercise programs on sleep habits have been controversial with some have finding positive effects, whereas others did not find any significant effect. It is possible that the dose or intensity of exercise programs may have an important influence in the outcomes. It is our opinion that based on the multi-system repercussions of different sleep dysfunctions, evaluation of sleep habits should be considered fundamental in the context of rehabilitation and should be included as part of the clinical history of each patient attending physical therapy.

This paper reviews some concepts on health economics from the authors personal perspective. It then examines the few papers published on health economics analysis applied to the field of sleep apnea syndrome, as well as the literature on the indirect (cost) consequences of sleep apnea syndrome. It appears that undiagnosed sleep apnea leads to a roughly two-fold increase in medical expenses in the years preceding the diagnosis and that treating the disease (once it is diagnosed) results in a decrease in these excess costs. It seems clear that sleep apnea increases the actual number of road traffic accidents, which will carry a definite, but unmeasured up to now, economic cost consequence. From the health economic point of view, the best diagnostic strategy is the one with the greater utility (i.e. polysomnography), although it could appear at first sight to be the more expensive one. From the patient's perspective, sleep apnea results in a given decrease in the possibilities to enjoy life, and its treatment is worth considering, especially if one takes into account that the actual treatment costs are not great. The global image of the health costs related to sleep apnea is still blurred, and further work is required to get the complete and clear picture of the economic consequences of this disease and of its treatment.

Introduction Domiciliary assisted ventilation (DAV) may be undertaken invasively or non-invasively. Non-invasive DAV is used for patients suffering from alveolar hypoventilation due to restrictive pathology. Invasive DAV is reserved for "indications of necessity" that is when non-invasive ventilation is contraindicated due to the absence of adequate cough and for alveolar hypoventilation leading to hypercapnoea during spontaneous ventilation. State of the art The main pathophysiological limitation to noninvasive ventilation is the interference of the glottis. In this mode the glottis imposes a variable resistance to the ventilation delivered. Its behaviour is more predictable during volume controlled than during pressure controlled ventilation. The control parameters of a volume controlled ventilator are very different from those used in invasive ventilation during which the respiratory system may be regarded as a single compartment (provided a cuffed tube bypasses the upper airway). In non-invasive DAV: mode VCM, tidal volume 13 mls kg(-1), rate 20 cycles min(-1), insp/exp ratio 1/1.2. In invasive DAV: mode VCM, tidal volume 8-10 mls kg(-1), rate 12 cycles min(-1), insp/exp ratio depending on the pathology 1/2. Perspectives As non-invasive DAV is essentially delivered during sleep the parameters for each patient can be optimised during polysomnography because waking, leading to a partial glottic occlusion, interferes with the ventilation delivered. Conclusions Recent understanding of the way the glottis interferes with mechanical ventilation when delivered non-invasively should lead to a revision of earlier practices based on invasive ventilation.

Background: So-called intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV), frequently coupled with a nebulizer, is increasingly used as a physiotherapy technique; however, its physiologic and clinical values have not been rigorously assessed. Study objective: To compare in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the nebulizer of the IPV device (Percussionaire; Percussionaire Corporation; Sandpoint, ID) with those of standard jet nebulization (SST) [SideStream; Medic-Aid; West Sussex, UK]. Design: Aerodynamic particle size was studied by an cascade impactor. The deposition of 99m Tc-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid was measured in 10 healthy subjects by tomoscintigraphy during spontaneous breathing with both nebulizers. Measurements and results: The mass median aerodynamic diameter (0.2 m vs 1.89 m for IPV and SST, respectively) and the fine-particle fraction (16.2% vs 67.5%, respectively) were significantly smaller with IPV. In vivo, respiratory frequency (RF) was lower with the IPV device (10.1 3.4 breaths/min vs 14.6 3.4 breaths/min, p 0.002). Whole-body deposition was significantly higher with IPV (15.63% vs 9.31%), but it was due to a higher extrapulmonary deposition. Although intrapulmonary deposition (IPD) was not different with both devices (4.20% for SST vs 2.49% for IPV), it was much more variable with IPV, compared to SST. The penetration index into the lung was higher with IPV than SST when normalized for RF (0.045 0.018 breaths/min vs 0.026 0.013 breaths/min, p 0.007). Conclusion: The two techniques showed comparable lung deposition despite a large difference in particle size. However, IPV IPD was too variable and thus too unpredictable to recommend its use for drug delivery to the lung. (CHEST 2004; 125:502–508)

Resume La ventilation non invasive (VNI) est actuellement largement utilisee en cas de detresse respiratoire aigue afin d’eviter le recours a l’intubation endotracheale. Cependant, le comportement de la glotte lors des differents modes ventilatoires de VNI peut influencer la ventilation minute effective. La ventilation en pression positive intermittente par voie nasale (VPPIn) en mode volumetrique induit une adduction des cordes vocales responsable d’une diminution de la proportion de ventilation minute insufflee parvenant reellement a l’echangeur pulmonaire (VMe). En mode barometrique controle, la reponse glottique a la VPPIn et donc la VMe sont variables et moins predictibles. En mode barometrique spontane, la glotte n’interfere pas sur la VMe qui augmente avec les niveaux de pression inspiratoire, essentiellement au-dessus de 20 cmH 2 O. Lors de la ventilation en pression negative intermittente (VPNI), l’augmentation de la ventilation ne s’accompagne pas d’une fermeture des cordes vocales permettant d’obtenir des niveaux de VMe superieurs a ceux observes en VPPIn. Ainsi, les parametres ventilatoires optimaux sont les suivants : en mode controle barometrique, une frequence respiratoire (Fr) de 20 cycles par minute, un rapport I/E de 1/1, une pression inspiratoire positive a 15 cmH 2 O, et une pression expiratoire aussi faible que possible ; en mode volumetrique : un volume courant de 13 ml/kg , une Fr de 20 cycles par minute, un debit inspiratoire de 0,56–0,85 l par seconde ; en VPNI : une pression negative de –30 cmH 2 O et une Fr de 20 cycles par minute. Par ailleurs, durant le sommeil, la reponse glottique a la VNI est differente de celle observee chez le sujet eveille. Les parametres ventilatoires « adaptes a l’eveil » peuvent donc etre inadequats pendant le sommeil du fait de la reduction du calibre glottique en sommeil lent. Ces donnees rappellent donc que le systeme respiratoire ne peut etre considere comme un modele a un seul compartiment sous VNI, a l’inverse de la ventilation mecanique endotracheale.

Objectif Evaluer l’efficacite et l’adherence sur le long terme du traitement anti-positionnel « Pasuldo » dans le syndrome des apnees hypopnees obstructives du sommeil positionnel (SAOSP) chez des patients moderes a severes. Methodes Nous avons inclus, entre le 30/04/2013 et le 30/12/2014, les patients diagnostiques SAOSP par PSG. Nous n’avons pas enrole, les patients pouvant beneficier d’une intervention ORL ou d’une CPAP. Apres 7 a 15 jours d’habituation a domicile, une PSG de controle a ete effectuee afin de verifier l’efficacite. L’adherence a ete mesuree par un agenda du sommeil et un suivi telephonique. Resultats Parmi 46 patients, 37 (80 %) ont accepte d’utiliser le dispositif. Nous avons observe la co-morbidite des patients : 48 % d’entre eux souffrent d’hypertension arterielle, 74 % d’hypercholesterolemie, 45 % de diabete et 11 % de trouble du rythme. La PSG sous Pasuldo montre une reduction significative du AHI (20 ± 7,3 a 12,3 ± 12,1, p = 0,0012) et du temps passe sur le dos durant le sommeil (164,2 ± 87,8 a 26,1 ± 45,7, p Conclusion Le Pasuldo est efficace car il diminue significativement l’AHI et le temps passe sur le dos, meme chez les patients moderes a severes. Peu de patients adherent au traitement sur le long terme et abandonnent a cause des effets secondaires (mal de dos, inconfort,…) et car ils pensent apprendre a dormir sur le dos.

Rationale: Previous studies have shown that an increase in inspiratory pressure during nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) does not result in increased effective minute ventilation ((V) over doe E) due to glottic interference. Study objectives: To test the consequences of increases in negative pressure ventilation (NPV) on (V) over dot E. Material and methods: Eight healthy awake subjects underwent NPV delivered by an iron lung. First, NPV was started at a respirator frequency (f) of 15 cycles per minute with an inspiratory negative pressure (INP) of - 15 cm H2O (F15-P15). Then,f was increased to 20 cycles per minute and INP was kept at - 15 cm H2O. Next,f was kept at 20 cycles per minute and INP was reduced to - 30 cm H2O (F20-P30). Finally,f was decreased to 15 cycles per minute and INP was kept at - 30 em H2O. At each step and for each breath, effective tidal volume (VT), (V) over dot E, and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure were measured. In three subjects, the glottis width was assessed using fiberoptic bronchoseopy. Results: From spontaneous breathing to the first step of NPV (F15-P15), we observed an inhibition of the phasic inspiratory diaphragmatic electromyogram concomitant to a significant increase in (V) over dot E (p < 0.0005). For the group as a whole, the increase in mechanical ventilation (from F15-P15 to F20-P30) resulted in significant increases in VT and (V) over dot E leading to hypocapnia (p < 0.0005). Moreover, the glottis width did not decrease with the increase in mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: We conclude that in normal awake subjects, NPV allowed a significant increase in (V) over dot E. These results differ from those previously obtained with nasal IPPV in which the glottic width interferes with the delivered mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the hypothesis that the ventilatory response to hypoxia (VRH) may be abolished by hypocapnia. METHODS: We studied four healthy subjects during intermittent positive-pressure ventilation delivered through a nasal mask (nIPPV). Delivered minute ventilation (Ed) was progressively increased to lower end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO(2)) below the apneic threshold. Then, at different hypocapnic levels, nitrogen was added to induce falls in oxygen saturation, a hypoxic run (N(2) run). For each N(2) run, the reappearance of a diaphragmatic muscle activity and/or an increase in effective minute ventilation (E) and/or deformations in mask-pressure tracings were considered as a VRH, whereas unchanged tracings signified absence of a VRH. For the N(2) runs eliciting a VRH, the threshold response to hypoxia (TRh) was defined as the transcutaneous oxygen saturation level that corresponds to the beginning of the ventilatory changes. RESULTS: Thirty-seven N(2) runs were performed (7 N(2) runs during wakefulness and 30 N(2) runs during sleep). For severe hypocapnia (PETCO(2) of 27.1 +/- 5.2 mm Hg), no VRH was noted, whereas a VRH was observed for N(2) runs performed at significantly higher PETCO(2) levels (PETCO(2) of 34.0 +/- 2.1 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Deep oxygen desaturation (up to 64%) never elicited a VRH when the PETCO(2) level was < 29.3 mm Hg, which was considered the carbon dioxide inhibition threshold. For the 16 N(2) runs inducing a VRH, no correlations were found between PETCO(2) and TRh and between TRh and both Ed and E. CONCLUSION: During nIPPV, VRH is highly dependent on the carbon dioxide level and can be definitely abolished for severe hypocapnia.

Sleep apnoea is a condition in which people stop breathing during sleep. A number of studies in general and worker populations have shown that the prevalence of an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) > 10 is in the range of 20%. Subjects with an AHI > 10 that complain of excessive daytime somnolence, tiredness, asphyxic episodes during the night or non-refreshing sleep, among other symptoms, suffer from the sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS). The prevalence of SAHS is around 4%. Owing to its high prevalence, clinical symptoms, probable secondary cardiovascular consequences and associated social problems, SAHS has a considerable impact on health, management of which is worth considering. Despite the fact that SAHS treatment has been challenged recent studies conclude that nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is undoubtedly effective in clearly symptomatic patients. Its use in clinical practice is adequately supported in the treatment of moderate to severe SAHS. Further studies are needed in order to define the lower range of symptoms to be treated. One of the most important problems encountered in this area results from the combination of two situations. On the one hand, different epidemiological studies have demonstrated that an AHI > 10 without symptoms is present in around 15% of the general population. On the other hand, several studies suggest that having a high AHI, even without secondary symptoms, gives rise to some undesirable effects such as traffic accidents and cardiovascular consequences. In this context, comprehensive epidemiological studies are therefore warranted to define the role of nCPAP treatment especially in those subjects with a high AHI but with few or no symptoms. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Obesity is a major health problem in well-developed societies. It is frequently associated with metabolic, cardiovascular and psychological comorbid conditions. Besides, it is known that obesity constitutes a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Weight loss has been evaluated as a treatment for OSA. We reviewed the nature of the link between obesity and OSA as well as the conservative and surgical therapeutic approaches of obesity. We consider the effectiveness of weight loss alone or combined with other modalities of treatment in OSA. We conclude that although weight loss is important and can facilitate the treatment of OSA, it can rarely cure it without being associated to classical techniques, such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP).

Study objectives To compare the clinical and management aspects of tracheobronchial aspirated foreign body (AFB) removal in children and adults; to assess the influence of the operator's experience on the outcome of the procedure. Design A retrospective review of a 20-year experience (from 1976 to 1996). Setting A 900-bed university hospital. Patients Eighty-four children up to 8 years old (the child group) and 28 adult patients (the adult group). Results The peak incidence of foreign body aspiration occurred during the second year of life in the child group and during the sixth decade in the adult group. The symptoms at presentation were similar in both age groups, but the diagnosis was significantly delayed in the adults. The AFBs were lodged preferentially in the right bronchial tree only in the adults; a central location was predominant (but not at all exclusive) in the children. Atelectasis was more common in the adults, and air trapping was more common in the children. The most frequent procedure was rigid bronchoscopy; when a flexible bronchoscope was used, it was always in the adult patients. When the operator was less experienced, a failed first attempt at bronchoscopy and the need for a second procedure were significantly more frequent. Conclusions At presentation, the symptoms seen with AFBs do not differ according to the age of the patient; however, the delay to diagnosis, the location of the AFBs, and the radiographic images differ between child and adult populations. The removal of AFBs in patients of all ages can be performed by the same operators. Because the outcome associated with these procedures improves when the operator is experienced, the removal of AFBs should be performed in medical centers that are capable of acquiring and maintaining the necessary expertise.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is currently the treatment of choice for the majority of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). After a CPAP trial, the initial acceptance rate is 70-80%. Patients who derive no subjective benefit from such a trial are poor candidates for home treatment with CPAP because they are likely to exhibit lower adherence and compliance rates. About 90% of OSA patients provided with CPAP apparatus will adhere to long-term CPAP treatment. Patients abandoning CPAP do so during the first few months of home therapy, a period during which close monitoring and support is warranted. Because of the strong correlation between the machine run time and effective pressure delivered at the nasal mask (90-95%), the time-counter of the CPAP device is sufficient to monitor compliance in clinical practice, allowing for early intervention in cases of suboptimal use. Longterm acceptors of CPAP display a satisfactory compliance (5-6.5 h of average daily use) which compares favourably with compliance with treatment in other chronic diseases. Lower acceptance and compliance rates have been reported in North America as compared to Europe. This could be related to cultural differences or different routines of prescription and follow-up.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to compare in awake and asleep healthy subjects, under nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (nIPPV) with a two-level intermittent positive pressure device (two-level nIPPV), the efficacy of the controlled and spontaneous modes, and of different ventilator settings in increasing effective minute ventilation (VE). PARTICIPANTS: Eight healthy subjects were studied. SETTING: In the controlled mode, inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) was kept at 15 cm H2O, expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) at 4 cm H2O, and the inspiratory/expiratory (I/E) time ratio at 1. The respirator frequencies were 17 and 25/min. In the spontaneous mode experiment, IPAP was started at 10 cm H2O and progressively increased to 15 and 20 cm H2O; EPAP was kept at 4 cm H2O. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We measured breath by breath the effective tidal volume (VT with respiratory inductive plethysmography), actual respiratory frequency (f), and effective VE. Using the controlled mode, effective VE was significantly higher on nIPPV than during spontaneous unassisted breathing, except in stage 2 nonrapid eye movement sleep at 17/min of frequency; increases in f from 17 to 25/min led to a significant decrease in VT reaching the lungs, during wakefulness and sleep; effective VE was higher at 25 than at 17/min of frequency only during sleep; periodic breathing was scarce and apneas were never observed. Using the spontaneous mode, with respect to awake spontaneous unassisted breathing, two-level nIPPV at 10 and 15 cm H2O of IPAP did not result in any significant increase in effective VE either in wakefulness or in sleep; only IPAP levels of 20 cm H2O resulted in a significant increase in effective VE; during sleep, effective VE was significantly lower than during wakefulness; respiratory rhythm instability (ie, periodic breathing and central apneas) were exceedingly common, and in some subjects extremely frequent, leading to surprisingly large falls in arterial oxygen saturation. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that two-level nIPPV should be used in the controlled mode rather than in the spontaneous mode, since it seems easier to increase effective VE with a lower IPAP at a high frequency than at a high pressure using the spontaneous mode. We suggest that the initial respirator settings in the controlled mode should be an f around 20/min, an I/E ratio of 1, 15 cm H2O of IPAP, and EPAP as low as possible.

We studied vocalization in 18 men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) (age, 49 [7.5] years; body mass index [BMI] 33.6 [7.6]) and 10 normal men as a control group (age, 46.7 [6.2] years; BMI 24.6 [2.2]). Polysomnographic data for patients with OSAS were as follows: total sleep time (TST), 387.5 [27.9] min; awake, 17.6 (12.6% TST); stage 1, 19.8 (18.7 percent TST); stage 2, 54.8 (23.2 percent TST); stage 3 and 4, 1.5 (0.3 percent TST); and stage REM, 4.2 (1.7 percent TST). Apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 43.0 (18.2) and lowest O2 saturation was 73.6 (11.4). We recorded the following sounds in all subjects: /a/ as in ''father''; /e/ as in ''get''; /i/ as in ''see''; /o/ as in ''go''; / u/ as in ''too.'' Three maneuvers for each vowel sound were taken for analysis. Signals were digitized at 10,000 Hz. Fast Fourier transformation was applied to segments of 512 points of each utterance corresponding to the vowel sound. The following parameters were obtained: maximum frequency of harmonics, mean frequency of harmonics, and the number of harmonics. Results: There were significant differences between both groups in the maximum frequency of harmonics of /i/ and /e/ vowels. (For /i/: 2,650 [672] Hz controls; 425 [71.2] Hz OSAS. For /e/: 2,605 [772.3] Hz controls; 1,250.0 [828.41 OSAS.) The number of harmonics for /i/ vowel was 4.5 (1.2) for controls as compared with 2.7 (1) Hz for OSAS. Conclusions: Vocalization in patients with OSAS is different from normal subjects. Vowel /i/ can distinguish these patients from normal subjects.

We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with a huge tracheal laceration after intubation. With simple supportive therapy, the laceration healed in ten days, and the patient made an uneventful recovery. At the three-month follow-up, no sequelae were observed.

We studied whether experienced trumpet players can develop higher pressures with their inspiratory and expiratory muscles than untrained subjects. Twelve male trumpet players (mean age, 22.4 +/- 3.3 years) participated in the study. All of them had played the trumpet for at least 4 years and were nonsmokers. Twelve healthy male subjects (mean age, 23.3 +/- 3.1 years) participated as a control group. There were no differences in spirometric parameters between both groups. Maximum respiratory pressures were higher in the trumpet player group (trumpet players: Pmax 151.3 +/- 19.8 cm H2O; Pemax, 234.6 +/- 53.9 cm H2O; control group: Pemax, 106.7 +/- 10.4 cm H2O; Pemax, 189.6 +/- 14.6 cm H2O). We concluded that in young trumpet players, maximum respiratory pressures are higher than in young people who do not play wind instruments. This is most probably a consequence of respiratory muscle training with a wind instrument.

Study objectives To compare the clinical and management aspects of tracheobronchial aspirated foreign body (AFB) removal in children and adults; to assess the influence of the operator's experience on the outcome of the procedure. Design A retrospective review of a 20-year experience (from 1976 to 1996). Setting A 900-bed university hospital. Patients Eighty-four children up to 8 years old (the child group) and 28 adult patients (the adult group). Results The peak incidence of foreign body aspiration occurred during the second year of life in the child group and during the sixth decade in the adult group. The symptoms at presentation were similar in both age groups, but the diagnosis was significantly delayed in the adults. The AFBs were lodged preferentially in the right bronchial tree only in the adults; a central location was predominant (but not at all exclusive) in the children. Atelectasis was more common in the adults, and air trapping was more common in the children. The most frequent procedure was rigid bronchoscopy; when a flexible bronchoscope was used, it was always in the adult patients. When the operator was less experienced, a failed first attempt at bronchoscopy and the need for a second procedure were significantly more frequent. Conclusions At presentation, the symptoms seen with AFBs do not differ according to the age of the patient; however, the delay to diagnosis, the location of the AFBs, and the radiographic images differ between child and adult populations. The removal of AFBs in patients of all ages can be performed by the same operators. Because the outcome associated with these procedures improves when the operator is experienced, the removal of AFBs should be performed in medical centers that are capable of acquiring and maintaining the necessary expertise.