Dr. David Kristo’s Research

Dr. Kristo previously first authored work on the Silent Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome (SUARS) which employed routine use of esophageal manometry, a gold standard but labor intense and seldom used diagnostic technique.  The SUARS work stands as one of the most comprehensive assessments of incidence of SUARS within a patient population and helps explain sleepiness in the absence of obvious sleep disorders.

Dr. Kristo also first authored a paper validating the use of telemedicine in electronically transporting sleep study data by Internet thus expanding the access of sleep studies in remote areas with interpretation by trained physicians elsewhere.  Internet transfer of sleep studies is now a routine part of daily sleep medicine clinical work within the field.

Dr Kristo also co-authored efforts to assess home monitoring of patients on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which proved that patients could be successfully followed on CPAP from remote locations with a home monitoring system.  This finding is even relevant in metropolitan areas for those with transportation problems and difficulty in accessing the medical system in person.

Committee work in defining best patient care approaches in peri-operative care in sleep apneics, use of non-prescription remedies in sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea care,  and prevalence of concomitant psychiatric disease in sleep clinic patients  helps better define the sleep medicine field.  Additionally this committee work directs care in areas without fully defined evidence based research to support medical actions required.

The normal anatomy of the upper airway

An airway that is obviously compromised by surrounding tissues and at risk for both upper airway resistance and obstructive sleep apnea.

The benefits of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in opening a compromised airway.

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