Sleep Center
Sleep Testing
Nocturnal Polysomnogram, NPSG – the standard overnight diagnostic sleep study used to assess sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, insomnia, 24-hour sleep-wake cycle disruptions etc. The study includes various physiologic measurements such as respiratory effort and airflow, EEG (brain waves), EKG (heart), EMG (muscle movement), oxygen saturation, and snoring. These parameters are standard on every overnight sleep study both diagnostic and therapeutic. The NPSG may also be performed during the day for patients who work a graveyard/swing shift.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, CPAP Titration – a therapeutic study used to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The purpose of this sleep study is to explore a variety of CPAP pressures to determine which is the most effective in eliminating apneic events and snoring.
Split Study – a sleep study which combines a 2-4 hour diagnostic test and a therapeutic test in the same night. This study is possible for every adult so that patients with severe OSAS may be treated immediately. If a patient is not “split” to CPAP then the study is run as a diagnostic NPSG. The patient may return for a full night of CPAP if the diagnostic test finds evidence of sleep apnea and treatment is advised.
BI-LEVEL Titration– an alternate therapeutic study used to treat patients that have very severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or that are intolerant of CPAP. Pressures are explored on the inhalation and an alternate pressure is adjusted on the exhalation. This pressure spread is used to ease the work of breathing.
REM Behavior Disorder, RBD – a modified NPSG with electrodes added to the arms (in addition to the legs) to determine the presence of movement during REM, a stage of sleep during which the muscles are immobile. This study is run if a patient is suspected of acting out his/her dreams at night.
NPSG with End Tidal CO2 – a modified NPSG with the use of end tidal CO2 monitoring. A useful adjunct to the airflow recording to assist in the detection of obesity hypoventilation and hypercapnia, or CO2 retention. ETCO2 recording is considered the gold standard of pediatric polysomnography.
Expanded EEG sleep recording – an NPSG ran with a full EEG recording. This study is used to detect the presence of nocturnal seizures in addition to other sleep disorders.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test, MSLT – a study run during the day after a full diagnostic NPSG, this study is used to objectively determine a patient's level of sleepiness after a nights sleep. The MSLT is a series of 5 timed tests, two hours apart, during which we look to see whether the patient falls asleep, how quickly, and to what stage of sleep the patient reaches. The MSLT is most commonly used to diagnose narcolepsy or some degree of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, MWT - a study run to determine whether a patient is able to remain awake in a sleep inducing environment. The MWT is used to assess the efficacy of the treatment of a sleep disorder.