Sleep-disordered Breathing and Non-invasive Ventilation

Our unit, under the Institute of Pulmonology, focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing sleep-disordered breathing, and provides non-invasive ventilation for those requiring it. Our team works closely with cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and psychologists.

Obstructive and central sleep apnoea are significant breathing disorders that are associated with risk factors, including hypertension, heart rhythm abnormalities, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and chronic pulmonary diseases that weaken the respiratory muscles, such as COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary hypertension.

When you first arrive at our unit, you’ll undergo an evaluation and interview with one of our lung specialists. Subsequent appointments may involve diagnostic procedures, such as a sleep study, followed by a consultation with another specialist within the unit, who will explain the most suitable treatment plan for your condition.  Our unit offers home sleep testing devices that measure nose airflow, breathing effort, blood oxygen levels, pulse, and snoring. You'll need to complete a brief questionnaire before and after the test.

Some people with chronic lung conditions also have sleep breathing issues and damage to their respiratory system during the day. This shows up as low oxygen levels in their blood and/or a build-up of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). We help people breathe using non-invasive ventilation devices, avoiding the need for more invasive methods like inserting a tube into the airway (endotracheal tube/tracheostomy). CPAP and BIPAP devices push air (via a tube) into a custom-fit mask on the face; this air then flows into the airways, keeping them open.

A CPAP device keeps air flowing at a steady pressure through every breath you take, both in and out. In a BIPAP device, the air pressure adjusts according to your breathing cycle. The air pressure is adapted for each patient, based on their body's ability to oxygenate blood and remove carbon dioxide. If the patient already owns a CPAP or BIPAP device, we prefer to use that.  Using the device correctly can boost your body's oxygen levels while you sleep, enhance your general respiratory function, improve sleep quality, and help you feel more alert during the day. It can also prevent complications from sleep apnea and potentially extend and improve your life.

To assess the treatment's effectiveness with the device, we track pulse, blood pressure, and breathing rate. We also measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood through the skin, avoiding the need for a blood test.

We regularly monitor all our patients to make sure they're getting the best and most suitable treatment.