[Diagnostic criteria and treatment for sleep-disordered breathing: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

In this chapter, the principal approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are presented. The diagnosis should be carried out by the taking of a thorough clinical history and by physical examination. For diagnostic confirmation, it is necessary to perform supervised overnight polysomnography. For patients in whom clinical suspicion is high, a simplified home study can be an alternative. The treatment of OSAS requires general measures and the use of positive pressure devices. In moderate and severe cases, CPAP is the method of choice, whereas oral appliances can be used in mild cases. Surgical procedures are recommended when anatomical alterations are evident or as an auxiliary method in combination with other types of treatment.