Nasal Cannula Treatment for Sleep Apnea

[Dean]

I have not been able to adjust to using a CPAP all night. The nasal pillows, which are supposed to be the most comfortable mask option, are too uncomfortable for me. I've been wondering why CPAP suppliers do not use the same devices used in medical situations to deliver oxygen. I finally looked it up, and found out the name of the device: nasal cannula. It looks like studies have been done using these with apnea patients, and the studies look promising. Does anybody have any knowledge of or experience with using a nasal cannula for treatment of sleep apnea? Does anybody know about these studies and have any idea whether or how long it would take for this to become an approved device for the tx of sleep apnea?

[J C]

I have worked in sleep for quite some time and am familiar with both nasal pillows and nasal cannulas. Cannulas are designed to deliver oxygen and not meant to treat sleep apnea (ie: used as interface for CPAP machines). I have not heard of any research that would indicate otherwise but plan to see what information is being fed to the public. The problem with using a cannula with CPAP is that it is not large enough to seal the air inside the nostrils, so the air can simply escape out of the nose-which defeats the purpose of using the CPAP. I also doubt that a nasal cannula-even if it could be sealed within the nostrils-could deliver enough air due to the small diameter of the tubing. Depending on what specific problem the pillows are causing there certainly may be other interface options. There used to be an interface that look like a giant cannula-but still sealed nostrils-but most people found those to be worse than pillows b/c they went so far into the nose.

[Dean]

Thanks for the information, JC! This is the most recent study that I found:

Nasal Cannula Treatment for Sleep Apnea Patients, in Bio-Medicine

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea can be significantly reduced through treatment with nasal insufflation (TNI), using a nasal cannula to deliver warm, humidified air at a high flow rate.

[Barbara DaRe]

Dean, have you looked at the Nasal-Aire II "cannula style" nasal CPAP mask? I am aware of several people who swear by this mask.

[Dean]

Barbara - thanks for the info! I haven't heard of this product.

It's taken me about a year, but I think I am finally adjusting to the nasal swift pillows. They shift around; air escapes, and the noise of the seeping air and the need to constantly adjust does hinder my sleep, but I am sleeping a little better now than I was before. I read on another message board that the fit is the problem. I've only been offered 3 sizes: the small is too small, and the medium too large. But, it's better than nothing.

Thanks again for the info on the "cannula style" mask. I'll check into it.