A CASE OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA HYPOPNEA SYNDROME (OSAHS) EXHIBITING A PATULOUS EUSTACHIAN TUBE IN NASAL CPAP

Abstract

Continuous positive nasal airway pressure (n-CPAP) is now the treatment of choice in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). We reported a case of OSAHS exhibiting a patulous Eustachian tube only in n-CPAP. A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea syndrome and started on use n-CPAP, experienced aural fullness immediately afterword. Examination showed audiometry and the eardrum to be normal Eustachian tube functional inspection showed potential eustachian tube dysfunction. We concluded that the patulous Eustachian tube was caused by excessive of n-CPAP adversely affecting the middle ear and the auditory tube function.