Signs, Symptoms & Clinical Features
Sleep apnea (central)
Central sleep apnea is pauses in breathing during sleep from brainstem dysfunction, which can occur in Chiari malformation and can be serious.
In short: Sleep apnea (central)
- It is pauses in breathing during sleep from impaired brainstem control.
- It can occur in Chiari malformation, including in children.
- It reflects effects on the brainstem breathing centers.
- It can be serious and warrants evaluation with a sleep study.
What it is
Central sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly pauses during sleep because the brainstem's control of breathing is impaired (as opposed to obstructive sleep apnea, caused by airway blockage). It can occur in Chiari malformation and can be serious.
Understanding Sleep apnea (central)
The brainstem (medulla) contains the centers that automatically control breathing. When the brainstem is affected in Chiari — particularly in more involved forms, and notably in some infants with Chiari II — its control of breathing can be impaired, leading to central sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep). This is a concerning symptom because it reflects significant brainstem involvement and can be dangerous. In children with Chiari II, breathing problems including central apnea can be serious and require urgent attention. Central sleep apnea warrants evaluation with a sleep study (polysomnography) and is often an indication for treatment to relieve the brainstem compression. Understanding central sleep apnea clarifies a serious breathing symptom of brainstem involvement in Chiari.
Why it matters
Understanding central sleep apnea helps families recognize breathing pauses during sleep as a serious sign of brainstem involvement in Chiari — especially in children — that warrants evaluation and often treatment.
Common questions
What is central sleep apnea?
Pauses in breathing during sleep from impaired brainstem control.
Why does it occur in Chiari?
From effects on the brainstem breathing centers.
How is it evaluated?
With a sleep study (polysomnography).
Bottom line
Central sleep apnea is breathing pauses during sleep from brainstem dysfunction in Chiari, a serious symptom warranting evaluation and often treatment.
Browse all 265 Chiari malformation definitions
Read the Chiari malformation patient guides
Not sure which page you need? Put words to it with the symptom navigator