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 Visiting
the SDC for an overnight sleep study must be a new experience
to you. Spending one night in the SDC is not like spending a
night in the hospital. You may be under the impression that
the bedroom you are going to sleep in is full of equipment,
monitors and a medical person who will be watching you the
whole night. That is far from truth.
You should look at it like spending one night in a hotel or in
a relative’s house. The room you are going to spend the night
in is a specially furnitured room. It will have a special
cupboard to keep your clothes and a private washroom with all
accessories. You can control temperature and light to your
convenience.
What is an overnight sleep study?
Sleep is a complex process during which, many physiological
and pathological processes occur. In order to understand your
sleep and any problems with it, we need to monitor several
physiological parameters during sleep. During the sleep study,
the following parameters will be monitored; brain waves,
muscle movements, breathing through your mouth and nose,
snoring, heart rate and rhythm, leg movements, chest and
abdominal wall movements, oxygen level in the blood and carbon
dioxide output. To monitor those functions, we apply small
metal discs to your head and skin using an adhesive. Flexible
elastic belts will be put around your chest and abdomen to
monitor your breathing. A small plastic tube (cannula) will be
put close to your mouth and nose to monitor your breathing.
Oxygen level in the blood will be measured via a clip in your
index finger or your ear lobe. None of the above devices are
painful and all are designed to be as comfortable as possible.
The equipment and the technician will be in a room separate
from your sleeping room. You will be able to roll over and
sleep in any position you like as easily as you would at home.
During the study, patient’s privacy is completely assured. You
will be able to call the technician via a microphone anytime
during the study.
What am I supposed to do before a
sleep study?
On the day of your sleep study:
• Avoid caffeine containing beverages (tea, coffee, Pepsi,
coca cola, chocolate) after 2
PM
• Avoid napping
• Before coming to the sleep center, wash and dry your hair to
make it easy to apply the
adhesives
• Pack a small bag that contains things you may need overnight
like medications,
toothpaste and brush, your nightclothes and a towel.
• If you have special needs, please advice the sleep center
staff before hand to be able
to help you.
What will happen when you arrive at
the sleep disorders center?
You will be asked to come to the sleep disorders center
between 8 and 9 PM. On arrival, the technician will meet you,
show you your room and the equipment used in the study. After
that, you can sit in the waiting room to watch TV, read or
relax. Before your bedtime, the technician will apply the
wires and electrodes required to monitor your sleep. The
technician will wake you up around 7 AM. If you want to get up
before that be sure to inform the sleep technician before your
study.
If you have breathing problems during sleep, the technician
may awaken you from sleep to use a device that delivers air
under positive pressure. The machine is called CPAP machine.
Air is applied through a soft mask that fits around your nose.
Your physician usually discusses the possibility of using this
machine with you in the clinic.
What will happen after the sleep
study?
Analysis and interpretation of a sleep study is a complex
process. A typical sleep study involves 800-1000 pages of
data. Its analysis is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Therefore, the results of the sleep study will not be
available immediately. Your sleep study will be reviewed and
interpreted by your doctor (a sleep specialist with special
training in sleep disorders). When you come for follow up your
physician will discuss with you the results and the management
plan. The results of the sleep study will not be given by the
technician and usually cannot be discussed over the telephone.
Sometimes an additional sleep test called multiple sleep
latency test (MSLT), is needed as a part of the overall sleep
evaluation. For this test, you need to stay in the sleep
center for most of the day following your overnight sleep
study. If your condition necessitates this test, your doctor
will discuss that with you in the clinic beforehand. The test
is a series of short naps beginning the morning after your
overnight study.
Dr. Ahmed
BaHammam
Director Sleep Disorders Center
King Khalid University Hospital
Associate Professor, College of Medicine, King Saud University
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