Abstract

The aim of the study was to define respiratory disorders caused by central nervous system tumors. We investigated 51 patients (31 men, 20 women, mean age 58). They were divided into the following groups: patients with supra-, infratentorial and cranio-vertebral junction lesions. We analyzed: the localization of tumors based on CT and MRI examinations and intraoperative observation, the status of consciousness by GCS scale, neurological status and histological findings. For the estimation of dynamics of the respiratory changes, rhinospirography examination was repeated several times in the course of observation. The alterations of respiration were clearly visible in many cases. We have confirmed that respiratory disorders found by rhinospirography provide a source of important clinical information on the effect of the treatment and prognosis. We have also confirmed that changes in respiration are observed earlier than changes of consciousness.

Keywords: impaired consciousness, brain tumors, rhinospirography, central respiratory disturbances