Dynamics of periodic breathing and arousal during sleep at extreme altitude.

摘要: To determine whether nocturnal periodic breathing (PB) at altitude is due primarily to unstable control of ventilation or the inability maintain stable sleep states, we performed visual and computer analyses electroencephalographic respiratory records healthy volunteers simulated altitudes 4572, 6100 7620 m. Transient arousals were associated with < 52% apneas identified; thus, PB cycle was not always transient arousal. Following termination oxygen breathing, reinitiation dependent on occurrence arousal as primary event. The transition from apnea preceded appearance by ∼ 1 4 sec. Ventilatory drive in breaths immediately following significantly larger than corresponding breaths, matched for Sao2. Our findings suggest that altitude-induced unlikely result fluctuations state. Arousals promote development help sustain these episodes, but are necessary their initiation.