Central Sleep Apnea

Treatment

Treatment for central sleep apnea (CSA) at Mayo Clinic is highly individualized and treatment plans may change as new options become available. Diagnosing and treating an underlying condition will alleviate CSA in some patients. Other patients will need additional assistance. Options may include:

Supplemental Oxygen
Various forms of oxygen are available, as well as different devices to deliver it to the lungs.

Positive Pressure Breathing
This treatment is frequently used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but is also used to facilitate breathing in patients with CSA. It involves a small electrical unit with a fan that gently blows air through a tube and mask. A properly fitting device is important. Mayo Clinic has a specially trained nursing staff for troubleshooting problems with device fit. The technology is continually evolving, but current options include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
  
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) - Lowers the level for exhalation
  
• Auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (PAP) - Automatically increases the pressure if breathing stops and lowers it again when breathing is normal
  
• Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) - A newer device records a patient's normal breathing pattern and then uses that data to normalize breathing as necessary

Medication
Drugs that help modify breathing patterns may help some patients.