Hospital Buyer

A small study to verify proof of concept evaluated the utility of treatment with nasal insufflation for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Findings were published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The research team, from Johns Hopkins, treated patients with warm, humidified air  delivered at a high flow rate via nasal cannula, nasal insufflation treatment (TNI). The group considered respiratory and sleep disturbance outcomes in a group of 11 patients with a spectrum of disease severity. Treatment was delivered in three different flow

Benefits were also noted for patients with hypopnea.rates: 0, 10, and 20L/minute; optimal symptom management was noted with a flow rate of 20L/minute among all patients, regardless of disease severity. Patients experienced stabilization of both breathing and sleeping patterns.

This therapy requires continued investigation to determine efficacy, delineate risks and side effects, identify optimal treatment parameters, and determine appropriate disease states for intervention. Nevertheless, TNI may provide an improved treatment alternative compared to existing strategies which are more invasive and not tolerated well.

This therapy appears to offer benefits on par with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), one of the most frequently used treatments for sleep apnea. The easier method of treatment delivery may encourage participation from a broader array of patients in addition to fostering increased compliance from patients.

Related story: Sleep Apnea Device Testing Commences

July 17, 2007 Related topics: Pulmonary