Alleviation of central sleep apnea by ventricular pacing in a patient with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2004 Oct;27(10):1447-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2004.00653.x.

Abstract

A 75-year-old man with a single chamber cardioverter defibrillator implanted for the management of sustained ventricular tachycardia developing after a healed myocardial infarction was admitted for evaluation of a sleep disorder. Polysomnography confirmed the presence of severe predominant central sleep apnea syndrome. The apnea-hypopnea index score decreased from 43.3 during spontaneous cardiac rhythm to 24.6 during VVI pacing at a rate of 70 beats/min. Ventricular pacing reduced the number of episodes of central sleep apnea/hypopnea without reducing the total sleep time, though it had no effect on episodes of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Remission Induction
  • Sleep Apnea, Central / therapy*