The Importance of Posture and Gravity in the Pathophysiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea "Because of an Elephantiasis Case with Sleep Disordered Breathing"

Abstract

The objective of drafting this case report is to delineate the relationship between elephantiasis disease rarely encountered in clinical practice and sleep disordered breathing, to try to understand how this specific condition influences the quality of sleep, to review the mechanisms for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome which is the most common sleep disordered breathing seen and to underline its importance once again. Lymphedema is a chronic condition stemming from the insufficient drainage of interstitial tissue fluid by lymphatic vessels resulting in swelling of lower extremities and increase in body weight. It limits the movement capacity of the individual leading to “long term disability”. Thus, weight gain related obesity and sleep disordered breathing trigger each other; the patient who already experiences problems due to elephantiasis is also confronted by the systemic problems posed by narrowing of the upper respiratory airways and severe sleep apnea syndrome.