Treatment emergent obstructive sleep apnea after Chiari surgery: A case report

Abstract

Patients with Chiari type I malformation may also present with sleep disordered breathing mainly central sleep apnea. Here, we report a patient with Chiari I malformation referred to our clinic because of snoring and sleep disordered breathing. He was a 28-year-old man referred to us for evaluation of snoring. An overnight polysomnography revealed central sleep apnea. On further evaluation of central sleep apnea, the patient found to have Chiari malformation type I on brain MRI. The patient developed obstructive sleep apnea after surgery for Chiari malformation. Accordingly, pap titration was performed for the patient’s obstructive sleep apnea. In patients with central sleep apnea comprehensive evaluation of predisposing causes is required. Lesions of central nervous system including Chiari malformation should not be overlooked. Furthermore, after treatment of central sleep apnea follow up PSG is warranted to confirm newly emerged sleep breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Keywords

• sleep disorders
• central sleep apnea
• chiari malformation type i