Correlation Between Trachebroncho Malacia/Hyperdynamic Airway Collapse And Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Correlation Between Trachebroncho Malacia/Hyperdynamic Airway Collapse And Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The investigators hypothesize that there is a strong correlation between OSA and TBM/HDAC.
 Our hypothesis is based on the similarities in mechanism (airway collapse), symptoms (daytime
 and nocturnal dyspnea) predisposing conditions (obesity and neuromuscular abnormalities of
 the chest wall and the diaphragm), and effect of interventions (CPAP and BIPAP) in these
 diseases.
Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) and HyperDynamic Airway Collapse (HDAC) are two distinct airway
 diseases that lead to airway collapse which can in turn lead to the symptoms of dyspnea,
 cough, and inability to expectorate sputum effectively. TBM entails flaccid tracheal and
 bronchial cartilages leading to airway collapse, emanating primarily from the anterior wall
 of the lumen. It is seen in conditions such as Relapsing Polychondritis and saber sheath
 tracheal deformity. HDAC on the other hand is the hyper-flaccidity of the membranous portion
 of the tracheobronchial tree leading to airway collapse. This condition is commonly seen with
 obesity and severe emphysema. TBM and HDAC frequently coexist.

 In patients with TBM/HDAC sleep disorders are common. Patients often complain of poor quality
 sleep, snoring, daytime fatigue, and somnolence. These patients are often diagnosed with
 Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) upon workup.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Females and males ages 18-80 years old

 -  Able and willing to provide written informed consent

 -  Existing diagnosis of TBM or HDAC or both

 -  No pre-existing diagnosis of OSA

 -  No history of reconstructive surgery of chest wall or diaphragm

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Inability to provide informed consent

 -  Non-English speaking

 -  Poorly controlled congestive heart failure

 -  Untreated Insomnia

 -  Severe Coronary artery disease with active symptoms of angina

 -  Patient is pregnant, or plans to become pregnant in next 3 months

 -  Moderate to severe bronchiectasis

 -  Severe untreated gastroesophageal disease (GERD).

 -  Moderate to large hiatal hernia deemed to be atleast in part responsible for TBM/HDAC

 -  Airway obstruction not caused by TBM /HDAC or secondary TBM/HDAC caused by conditions
 such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

 -  Active or recent (with in last one year) cancer or cancer therapy (chemotherapy,
 radiation therapy or surgery)

 -  Inability to properly perform the home sleep test

 -  Unreliable test data after 2 attempts

 -  BMI>45