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Does Transition From Cpap To Bipap Improve Symptoms Of Aerophagia?, Kathy Tran, Do, Karl Doghramji, Md

Department of Sleep Medicine Posters

Introduction

Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been an ongoing dilemma in obstructive sleep apnea patients and up to 83% of patients are noncompliant. It is believed that mask discomfort or pressure intolerance are the major causes. Aerophagia, or “air swallowing” may be an under-recognized and insidious cause for CPAP nonadherence. Patients generally complain of belching, bloating, abdominal pain and distention. Some studies have reported worsening gastrointestinal reflux symptoms from PAP-induced aerophagia. Although bi-level positive airway pressure (BIPAP) is often utilized in such circumstances, this practice had not been examined. We hypothesized that transitioning patients from CPAP …