Retrograde lacrimal duct airflow during nasal positive pressure ventilation

Abstract

Noninvasive ventilation is widely used for chronic respiratory failure in children with neuromuscular disorders, thus avoiding the need for tracheostomy. However, the pressures required to support ventilation in these children may be considerably higher than those necessary to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The complications of nasal positive airway pressure are numerous, including skin breakdown, conjunctivitis, nasal congestion, airway dryness, pneumothorax, and bowel obstruction. Ophthalmologic complaints are particularly common, largely attributed to an air leak in the mask. In the present case, we demonstrate, through two modalities - video and CT scan - retrograde airflow through the nasolacrimal duct causing sleep disruption and eye irritation in a profoundly hypotonic 14-month-old boy with chronic respiratory failure on bilevel ventilation during sleep.