ONDINE'S CURSE

It also called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) or primary alveolar hypoventilation.

Patients afflicted with Ondine's curse classically suffer from respiratory arrest during sleep.

Till 2006, there were only about 200 known cases worldwide.

The disease used to be classified as a "neurocristopathy"or disease of the neural crest because part of the autonomic nervous system (such as sympathetic ganglia) derives from the neural crest.

Patients generally require tracheotomies and lifetime mechanical ventilation.

Now it is been shown that Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation can effectively be used without the need of a tracheotomy.

An alternative to a mechanical ventilator is Phrenic Nerve Pacing/diaphragm pacing.