ABSTRACT
A rarely reported association of sleep apnea and superior vena cava stenosis from mediastinal fibrosis is described. A case is presented where substantial improvement in the sleep parameters and the symptoms of sleep apnea occurred subsequent to superior vena cava thrombolysis and stent angioplasty.
Subject(s)
Sleep Apnea Syndromes/etiology , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/physiopathology , Stents , Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/complications , Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/surgery , Angiography , Angioplasty , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Period , Sleep/physiology , Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/therapy , Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic useABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Excessive daytime sleepiness can be evaluated with both subjective and objective tests. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores and sleep latency on the multiple sleep latency test. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Referral sleep disorders center. PATIENTS: 102 consecutive patients evaluated for excessive daytime sleepiness. MEASUREMENTS: Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores and mean sleep latency on the multiple sleep latency test. RESULTS: No significant association was seen between Epworth scores and mean sleep latency (Pearson correlation, -0.17 [95% CI, -0.35 to 0.03]; P = 0.09) (analysis of variance, P = 0.13). The mean Epworth score did not differ in three groups of patients who were defined by mean sleep latency as having normal sleep latency (>10 minutes), moderate sleep latency (5 to 10 minutes), or severe sleep latency (<5 minutes) (analysis of variance, P = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically or clinically significant association was seen between Epworth scores and mean sleep latency. The subjective Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the objective multiple sleep latency test may evaluate different, complementary aspects of sleepiness.
