EC Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. OSA is characterized by recurrent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway during sleep, resulting in reduced (hypopnea) or complete cessation (apnea) of airflow despite ongoing breathing efforts.

One phenotype of OSA is positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA); in this condition sleep-related obstructive events occur predominantly in the supine position. Its prevalence is underestimated, because there is no consensus on the definition. Treatments for POSA include behavioral and lifestyle modifications, continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) or positional therapy (PT), that in the last years, has become more reliable for patients with the use of new device.

We present a POSA’s case treated with benefit with positional therapy. 

Keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Positional Therapy

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