A 52-year-old obese man presents with loud snoring, witnessed apneas during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. He reports morning headaches and denies asthma or reactive airway disease. Vital signs show BP 154/96 mm Hg, HR 88/min, RR 16/min, SpO2 89% during sleep. Polysomnography reveals an apnea-hypopnea index of 42 events/hour. Which of the following best explains the underlying mechanism of his nighttime breathing disorder?
- A)Fibrotic restriction of the chest wall
- B)Destruction of alveolar septa causing hyperinflation
- C)Pharyngeal soft tissue collapse during sleep causing intermittent upper airway obstructionGABARITO
- D)Recurrent aspiration of gastric contents
- E)Loss of central respiratory drive during sleep
Explicação
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, especially in obese patients with excess pharyngeal soft tissue. Intermittent hypoxemia and arousals lead to daytime somnolence, morning headaches, hypertension, and incre... Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →