[Obstructive sleep apnea syndromes]

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was first described 200 years ago but the definition of the syndrome was only developed during the last ten years (snoring, apneas during the night, somnolence, high blood pressure, changes of personality). The frequency of the syndrome is not known exactly but the pathophysiology, the morbidity and the mortality associated with the syndrome is facilitating by application of a positive airway pressure (CPAP) at the nose. Good compliance and rapid improvement of the symptomatology with practically no complications make that CPAP is the first choice for the physician in 1991.