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Severe obstructive sleep apnea and associated snoring documented during external tocography
D M Sherer1, C B Caverly, J S Abramowicz
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642-8668.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Severe obstructive sleep apnea in pregnant individuals can be mistaken for uterine activity. Despite severe symptoms, good fetal outcomes are possible.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Sleep Medicine
- Perinatology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by intermittent upper airway obstruction during sleep.
- Pregnancy can exacerbate or unmask OSA due to physiological changes.
- Accurate diagnosis of maternal conditions is crucial for fetal well-being.
Observation:
- A pregnant individual presented with symptoms suggestive of OSA.
- Cardiotocography, typically used for fetal monitoring, revealed a pattern mimicking uterine activity.
- This led to the diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Findings:
- The patient experienced severe OSA with significant hypoxic oxygen saturation levels.
- Marked daytime somnolence (10-12 hours) persisted from 32 weeks gestation until delivery.
- Despite the maternal condition, the fetal outcome was positive.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering non-obstetric diagnoses in pregnant patients, even when using obstetric monitoring tools.
- Severe maternal OSA and hypoxia may not always adversely affect fetal outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the maternal-fetal interface in OSA during pregnancy.