Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:11 am
Titrator wrote:An obstructive apnea is a total cessation of breath for at least 10 seconds, with continued respiratory drive. (The diaphram still moving but no air comming in due to obstruction)
A central apnea is a complete cessation of breath for at least 10 seconds, without respiratory drive. (The diaphram is not moving. No attempt to breathe is being made by the body)
A hypopnea is at least a 30% reduction in airflow with a 3% desaturation.
Ted, is there any duration qualification regarding the hypopnea? If not, how would you determine the number of events in a string of hypopnias if you never got outside of the 30%;3%?