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Polysomnography
The diagnosis of OSA is made by an overnight sleep study called a polysomnogram (PSG). The PSG in a hospital or sleep laboratory is the gold standard of sleep tests. Another option is to use one of a variety of home diagnostic systems. Multiple electrodes are attached to the patient by a sleep technician.
Pulse Oximetry measures the hemoglobin saturation with oxygen to distinguish changes in blood oxygen saturation during an apneic or hypopneic event.
Often, during testing, the effect of CPAP is measured. This patient is fitted with a CPAP mask for testing the effectiveness of CPAP. This also provides the sleep technician the opportunity to titrate the necessary CPAP pressure.
Once all measuring devices are placed, the patient is asked to get into bed. Bedrooms in a sleep center are made as comfortable as possible.
The patient is monitored throughout the night by a technician who makes recordings of the sleep parameters. In a sleep center, all measurements are stored digitally or recorded on paper so that a record of the sleep study can be retained and evaluated by a sleep doctor and/or technician.
Home sleep studies range from simple approaches such as oximetry to more complex devices that measure everything that the sleep laboratory study can do.
Availability of resources and the population to be studied often dictates the optimal approach. During the home study, all measurements are recorded in a computer for review by a sleep physician and/or technician.
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