POLYSOMNOGRAPHY at J|medical

Sleep plays a crucial role in our physical and mental wellbeing, contributing to the maintenance of our general state of health. This is why, in the case of problems affecting the quality and quantity of sleep, it is important to consult a specialist in sleep medicine. These are problems that can affect both adults and children, and to identify them, obtain an accurate diagnosis, and plan appropriate treatment, the physician uses polysomnography.

What is polysomnography? It is the reference diagnostic method for identifying sleep-related breathing disorders, such as nocturnal apnoea (OSAS) and snoring disorders (rhonchopathy). It provides an objective analysis of sleep, recording all the physiological variables involved in the different stages of sleep (including REM and non-REM). Through an accurate diagnosis and careful evaluation of the test results, the specialist physician can identify the nature of the nocturnal disorder and, accordingly, plan the most appropriate therapy. It is a safe, highly reliable, and non-invasive examination.

How is it performed? It is a diagnostic test carried out while the patient sleeps at home. During a polysomnography, various devices are used to monitor different aspects of sleep and bodily functions: a thoracic belt captures the expansion movements of the chest, enabling respiratory monitoring; an abdominal belt detects the movements of the abdominal muscles, providing information on respiratory activity; a pulse oximeter is attached to a finger and measures peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation and heart rate, providing important data on the patient’s blood circulation and heart rate during sleep; a nasal cannula detects respiratory flow, helping to assess how the patient breathes during sleep. There are also specific sensors for snoring, which make it possible to identify any respiratory sounds during the night. A position sensor is able to detect the body position assumed by the patient during sleep — whether supine, lateral, or prone — providing valuable information on the patient’s sleep patterns. In addition to initial diagnosis, polysomnography is also an effective method for evaluating the efficacy of any ongoing therapies (e.g. CPAP, APAP, BiPAP).

The devices are positioned at the facility or at the patient’s home by a specialist technician in Neurophysiopathology, and the report is prepared by a physician specialising in Sleep Medicine.

And what about paediatric polysomnography? It is the reference examination for diagnosing sleep disorders in children. Although the examination procedure is similar to that for adults, there are significant differences regarding the causes of sleep disorders in the paediatric age group. The most important and frequent causes may include adenotonsillar hypertrophy and obesity or excess weight.

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