Conversion from predominant central sleep apnea to obstructive sleep apnea following valvuloplasty in a patient with mitral regurgitation.

A few reports have shown that cardiac valve repair may improve central sleep apnea (CSA) in patients with valvular heart disease. It has been suggested that such improvements are associated with the improvement of cardiac function. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with mitral regurgitation, whose CSA converted to predominant obstructive sleep apnea following mitral valvuloplasty in association with a shortening of lung-to-finger circulation time.