Symptoms Underestimate the Presence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks of the Temporal Bone.

Objective: To determine the severity of symptoms and degree of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (sCSF) leaks of the temporal bone given the known association between sCSF leaks and OSA.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Ambulatory clinics in tertiary referral centers.

Five-year outcome in COPD patients after their first episode of acute exacerbation treated with non-invasive ventilation.

Background And Objective: Little is known about long-term survival of patients surviving the first episode of type II respiratory failure requiring non-invasive ventilation (NIV). We aimed to determine the 1-, 2- and 5-year survival, cause of death and potential prognostic indicators in this patient cohort.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 100 sequential COPD patients (mean age 70, mean FEV(1) 37% predicted) treated with NIV for the first time.