Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)

Overview

Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS), is common in patients with OHS, compared to single Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) or OSAHS ,patients with both of them are more susceptible to have serious hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention during sleep, and much more likely to result in pulmonary hypertension and cor-pulmonale. At present, the most widely and valid method for these patients is the Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) ventilation, while, recently, the investigators discovered a completely novel device, namely auto-trilevel Ventilator. In contrast to the traditional therapy, auto-trilevel Ventilator has a more flexible expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), with which it can removing residual obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea events and correcting hypercapnia without contradiction. Treated with auto-trilevel ventilator may delay the progression of disease and improve life quality. The overall purpose of this study is to determine the curative effects of auto-trilevel ventilators on patients with OHS and OSAHS.

The main contradiction in treatment for OSAHS complicated OHS is how to improve hypercapnia because of narrower difference between inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), and meanwhile to eliminate apnea and popnea events which may easily occur at the end of expiration For ordinary Bipap ventilator. If the IPAP is set to higher, the patients may feel discomfort, if the pressure difference between IPAP and EPAP is too narrow or the expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) too high, hypercapnia may occur. If the EPAP is too low, redusual apnea and hypopnea event may become common. Auto-trilevel ventilation, with a lower airway pressure at the beginning of expiration to prevent hypercapnia and a higher airway pressure at the end of expiration to prevent residual apnea events, should be able to provide a novel ventilation mode with a higher efficacy and lower average airway pressure for OSAHS patients complicated with OHS. To prove the hypothesis, comparison is made between ordinary BiPAP and auto-Trilevel ventilation modes during treatment for patients with OSAHS and OHS. In this study, the investigators compare the changes of related indexes (including apnea hypopnea index、minimal pulse oxygen saturation、arousal index, sleep quality,PaCO2 and sleepiness scores) before and after treatment. Meanwhile, curative effects will be compared between BiPAP and auto-Trilevel ventilation modes. The investigators will analyze the changes and then confirm our hypothesis.