Sonolência Excessiva e suas Conseqüências

Abstract

Excessive daytime sleepiness may be a common finding in the general population. An excessive somnolence leading to distraction may be the cause of important accidents, truly catastrophes. The accident with the oil tanker Exxon Valdez in the coast of Alaska and the the nuclear accident of Chernobyl may be examples of how a distractec staff, owing to many reasons, may lead do disaster. There are many specific causes for an excessive sleepiness due to primary hypersonias, as narcolepsy, or to secondary hypersonias, like respiratory syndromes. Some examples of the latter are the sleep apneas. The authors make a review of the most common and important causes of excessive daytime sleepiness, focusing on the pathophysiology and treatment.