The Effects of CPAP on Oxygenation
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices have a profound impact on the oxygenation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Patients with apnea have oxygen levels that vary throughout the night with frequent dips in oxygen, sometimes to severely low levels. A successful CPAP titration alleviates this problem, although low oxygen can persist in some patients.
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Oxygenation
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A patient who has untreated apnea has frequent cessations in breathing due to obstruction. When the patient's airway is compromised, the oxygen level decreases. This is evidenced by a low reading in the pulse oximeter used during a sleep study. When the patient arouses from the apnea, the oxygen climbs up, only to return to a low level with the next apneic event.
CPAP Maintains the Airway
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Oxygen levels are both higher and more stable in the patient on a CPAP device because the airway is splinted open with air. The uncollapsed airway maintains normal breathing and thus normal saturation levels.
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Effects
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In a patient with severe apnea whose oxygen can go down to dangerous levels, there is a particularly dramatic improvement with CPAP usage. The patient will also feel better and more alert.
Exceptions
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Some patients will not improve their oxygen levels on a CPAP alone. This may be because of poor tolerance to the CPAP device or because of a pulmonary condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Treatment other than CPAP
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For patients whose oxygenation does not improve with a CPAP, there are other options to consider, such as BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) or VPAP (variable positive airway pressure) devices.
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