17082
document
Mouth closing device ( chinstrap ) reduces mouth leak during nasal CPAP . BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mouth leak occasionally complicates continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ) therapy , which leads to discomfort . While a chinstrap prevents the mouth from opening during sleep , its efficacy in diminishing mouth leak has not been studied . PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifteen patients with mouth leak complaining of mouth dryness and nasal obstruction underwent two consecutive overnight polysomnographies , one with a chinstrap , in random order . Cephalometry with and without a chinstrap was randomly performed on six patients . RESULTS With the chinstrap , both mouth leak and the arousal index decreased significantly , from ( mean+/-SD ) 42.9+/-23.5 to 23.8+/-13.3 % of total sleep time ( TST ) , and from 33.4+/-18.6 to 23.6+/-9.3/sleep hour , respectively . However , snoring time showed a concomitant increase from 6.7+/-14.3 to 24.0+/-13.2 % of TST . The arousal index was significantly higher during leak periods , and its changes correlated positively with changes in mouth leak . Cephalometric measures showed a significant decrease in anterior lower facial height . CONCLUSIONS The chinstrap , by closing the mouth during CPAP , reduces mouth leak and therefore the arousal index in most patients . Nevertheless , the indices remained unacceptably high . The chinstrap may also increase snoring and , in rare cases , can worsen the respiratory disturbance index . Consideration of these potential effects is important before instituting regular home use of the chinstrap .
17083
Intervention_Physical
two consecutive overnight polysomnographies
17084
Intervention_Physical
chinstrap
17085
Intervention_Physical
Cephalometry with and without a chinstrap
17086
Outcome_Physical
mouth leak
17087
Outcome_Physical
Cephalometry
17088
Outcome_Physical
mouth leak
17089
Outcome_Other
the arousal index
17090
Outcome_Physical
total sleep time
17091
Outcome_Physical
snoring time
17092
Outcome_Physical
arousal index
17093
Outcome_Physical
mouth leak
17094
Outcome_Physical
Cephalometric measures
17095
Outcome_Physical
anterior lower facial height