Breathing abnormalities during sleep.

The purpose of this communication is to review obstructive and central breathing abnormalities that may occur during sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Emphasis is placed on noninvasive monitoring of the breathing pattern and intrapleural pressure swings by respiratory and surface inductive plethysmography, respectively, which establish the diagnosis of these abnormal breathing patterns.