Date of Presentation
5-5-2022 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has become a standard form of therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are reports of patients suffering from episodes of epistaxis within the initial few weeks of starting CPAP therapy, believed to be due to the high flow rate of air during use, nasal CPAP purportedly dries the nasal mucosa, leading to an increased risk of scabbing, ulceration, and ultimately epistaxis. This study seeks to analyze whether epistaxis is common in patients following CPAP initiation and then compare this rate of epistaxis amongst OSA patients that received upper airway stimulation (UAS) surgery in lieu of CPAP therapy.
Keywords
Epistaxis, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Otolaryngology | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Respiratory System | Respiratory Tract Diseases | Therapeutics
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Otolaryngology Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Respiratory System Commons, Respiratory Tract Diseases Commons, Therapeutics Commons
CPAP and Epistaxis: Is There a Connection in OSA Patients?
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has become a standard form of therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are reports of patients suffering from episodes of epistaxis within the initial few weeks of starting CPAP therapy, believed to be due to the high flow rate of air during use, nasal CPAP purportedly dries the nasal mucosa, leading to an increased risk of scabbing, ulceration, and ultimately epistaxis. This study seeks to analyze whether epistaxis is common in patients following CPAP initiation and then compare this rate of epistaxis amongst OSA patients that received upper airway stimulation (UAS) surgery in lieu of CPAP therapy.