Images in Thorax

Nocturnal atrial fibrillation in a patient with obstructive sleep apnoea

R Schulz, H J Eisele, W Seeger

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr R Schulz
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Klinikstrasse 36, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Richard.Schulz@innere.med.uni-giessen.de

Keywords: obstructive sleep apnoea; atrial fibrillation

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A 75 year old woman was referred to our hospital for suspected sleep apnoea. Her medical history mentioned arterial hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Polysomnography revealed obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). During one phase of OSA the heart rate, determined by signals derived from pulse oximetry, showed a sharp rise in frequency (fig 1, left). Simultaneously recorded electrocardiography (ECG) indicated AF (fig 2A). The onset of AF was preceded by a long apnoeic event (48 s) with marked oxygen desaturation (SaO₂ 67%). After a period without apnoeas, spontaneous reversal to sinus rhythm occurred (fig 1, right; fig 2B).

View larger version (64K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1  Two hour polysomnographic recording showing onset of AF during a period of apnoeas with consecutive desaturations and spontaneous resolution after a phase of undisturbed breathing. NAF, oronasal flow; THO/ABD, thoracoabdominal breathing; SaO2, oxygen saturation; HR, heart rate.

 

View larger version (30K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2  Single channel ECG recordings (lead I, 30 s . . . [Full text of this article]

 

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