A case of mitral regurgitation whose nocturnal periodic breathing was improved after mitral valve replacement.

Nocturnal periodic breathing (PB) is often observed in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). We investigated the sleep architecture polysomnographically in a 54-year-old man with CHF due to mitral regurgitation before and after surgical treatment. We found that the overnight frequency of central dominant sleep apnea decreased from 154 to 56, and the lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation increased from 66% to 85% postoperatively. These improvements in the manifestations of PB might be attributed to the improved hemodynamics after successful valve replacement.