How to interpret polysomnography

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2020 Jun;105(3):130-135. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316031. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Abstract

A 5-year-old child presents to a paediatric clinic with their parents because of concerns about snoring, which is loud, every night and associated with respiratory pauses. This has been present for 6 months. Can clinical evaluation diagnose sleep-disordered breathing in children or are further investigations required? Should further investigations include oximetry or polysomnography? If a polysomnogram is performed, how are the results interpreted? In this paper we describe the indications for polysomnography, outline the parameters measured and decode a clinical polysomnography report.

Keywords: polysomnography; sleep disordered breathing; sleep study.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oximetry / methods
  • Oximetry / standards*
  • Pediatrics / standards*
  • Polysomnography / methods
  • Polysomnography / standards*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Snoring / diagnosis*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires