Treatment options for OHS

Recommended treatment for OHS patients include: a controlled weight loss program¹; and nocturnal positive airway pressure, that is, noninvasive ventilation (NIV).²

Weight loss

Because weight is a major cause of OHS, the first step in treating patients suspected of OHS is weight loss. Losing weight will not only improve their general health, but can also improve alveolar ventilation [PaCO₂] and arterial oxygen tension [PaO₂].³

As well as following a weight loss program, patients should be monitored through:

• arterial blood gases testing
• pulmonary function testing
• a polysomnography
• chest radiographs.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)

The main goals of treatment for an OHS patient are to:

• normalise arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂ 45 mmHg)
• prevent hypoxemia during sleep and wakefulness
• prevent erythrocytosis, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory failure
• relieve hypersomnia and altered mentation.

Treatment with NIV achieves these goals and has been widely observed to be the ideal treatment for OHS.²

ResMed’s NIV solution

ResMed’s intelligent Volume-Assured Pressure Support (iVAPS) is a unique technology featured in the Lumis^TM series and the Stellar^TM series devices. This new therapy mode adjusts to a patient’s respiratory rate, targets alveolar ventilation and automatically adjusts pressure support as needed to accommodate each patient’s unique needs, even as their disease state progresses.