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What is an Overnight Polysomnography (PSG)?
An overnight Polysomnography (PSG) is the most common diagnostic tool for most sleep medicine experts. During a PSG, multiple physiologic parameters are recorded simultaneously.
The study includes EEG monitoring, electro-oculography to monitor eye movements, pulse oximetry, oronasal airflow, belts to determine abdominal and chest wall movements, chin electromyography (EMG) to determine chin movements, leg EMG to determine leg movements, transcutaneous carbon dioxide or end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring (ETCO 2 ), electrocardiography, snore microphone, and video recording.
PSG is the gold standard to diagnose many sleep disorders, such as sleep disordered breathing, periodic limb movement disorder, etc.
What are the indications for Polysomnography ?
PSG is routinely indicated for the diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, for titration of positive airway pressure (PAP) as therapy for sleep-disordered breathing, to evaluate for possible narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia (combined with an MSLT), or to evaluate sleep-related behaviors such as periodic limb movement disorder or REM sleep behavior disorder.
Follow up PSG is indicated for the assessment of treatment results after surgical or dental treatment of patients with sleep-related breathing disorders or if there is a substantial amount of weight loss or gain (>10% of body weight).
PSG is also indicated when evaluating for parasomnias that are either unusual or atypical, but it is not indicated for circadian rhythm disorders.
Guidelines, specifically for adults and children, have been developed.
