TY - JOUR T1 - Continuous positive airway pressure is effective in treating upper airway oedema JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1092 LP - 1093 DO - 10.1183/09031936.96.09051092 VL - 9 IS - 5 AU - F Barbe AU - S Pons AU - B Togores AU - J Sauleda AU - R Soler AU - AG Agusti Y1 - 1996/05/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/9/5/1092.abstract N2 - The case of a patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and upper airway oedema, is described. The patient presented with alveolar hypoventilation and obstructive apnoeas during sleep. Intravenous steroids (methylprednisolone, 160 mg.day-1) for 5 days did not reduce the oedema. However, it was rapidly reversed by the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). In addition, daytime pulmonary gas exchange was improved and sleep apnoea abolished. This beneficial effect made tracheostomy unnecessary. This case report suggests that CPAP can be a potentially useful therapeutic alternative to tracheostomy in the clinical management of upper airway oedema. ER -