Orbital Herniation Associated With Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

A diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea was made after a 52-year-old hypertensive man developed a large intracranial hemorrhage. Therapeutic noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) for obstructive sleep apnea and hypoventilation was complicated by transient unilateral orbital herniation. As best as can be determined, this represents a new, potentially deleterious side effect of NPPV.