Transtracheal air in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome

A 49 year old woman with typical obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome underwent an unsuccessful trial with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) followed by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with septorhinoplasty, treatment with protriptyline, and a second CPAP trial that was abandoned. Transtracheal air was then given and normalised sleep and breathing at a flow rate of 5 l/min. A sustained clinical improvement was observed at follow up visits. Transtracheal air could represent a simple and effective alternative to tracheotomy in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome in whom conventional treatments fail.