The diagnosis of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or other sleep disorders initially includes taking down the patient's detailed medical history, and performing a physical exam and a series of lab tests. The sleep study is the ideal test and the cornerstone for the diagnosis and evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is performed in the sleep lab and the distinction between central, obstructive or mixed type of apnea is made possible.

What is the study process?

It is a completely painless, non-invasive diagnosis of sleep disorders. The patient sleeps in a comfortable, specially designed area, where the main functions of their body are recorded with special cutting-edge equipment: Electrocardiogram Respiratory airflow Snoring Recording of oxygen saturation Body position Chest movements Abdominal movements Oculography Electroencephalogram Throughout sleep, the recording is checked and the patients are supported directly by the specialists and according to the instructions of the Laboratory Director.

What is recorded during the study?

Information is collected on the function of breathing, the brain, the heart and the muscles. In addition, the stages of sleep, awakenings, desaturations (drop in oxygen, arrhythmias/tachycardias and bradycardias), limb movements, apneas (full interruption of the air flow to the lungs) and hypopneas (interruption of the air flow to the lungs by at least 70%) are recorded. Furthermore, a polysomnography can be performed through positive pressure ventilation (pressure titration study), a sleep study which uses respiratory equipment for the treatment of sleep apnea or hypoventilation syndromes (obesity, neurological/neuromuscular diseases, respiratory diseases).

What happens after diagnosis?

Treatment follows, which can be complex and multi-faceted, depending on the cause. Patient evaluation, clinically and in the lab (with polysomnography), leads to the ideal treatment method for each case.

Pulmonology Department

Internal Medicine Clinics

Call center

210 618 4000

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep is a normal period of relaxation, during which there is a temporary change in the responsiveness to external stimuli and a subsequent decrease in muscle activity, metabolism and stimuli response.

Proper sleep can promote good overall health and quality of life, boost the immune system, increase efficiency at work or school, boost the memory, help prevent diabetes mellitus and vascular complications such as hypertension, heart disease and strokes, as well as reduce the risk of premature death.

During sleep, several sleep disorders may develop:

Obstructive sleep apnea (the most common sleep-related breathing disorder which can significantly affect sleep in a large part of the population).
Different types of insomnia
Sleeplessness (sleepwalking, sleep terrors, nocturnal awakenings, behavior disorder in REM sleep, dream anxiety disorder)
Hypersomnia (narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, etc.)
Sleep disorders in patients with respiratory, heart, neurological/neuromuscular, metabolic diseases.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or other sleep disorders initially includes taking down the patient's detailed medical history, and performing a physical exam and a series of lab tests. The sleep study is the ideal test and the cornerstone for the diagnosis and evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is performed in the sleep lab and the distinction between central, obstructive or mixed type of apnea is made possible.
What is the study process?
It is a completely painless, non-invasive diagnosis of sleep disorders. The patient sleeps in a comfortable, specially designed area, where the main functions of their body are recorded with special cutting-edge equipment:
- Electrocardiogram
- Respiratory airflow
- Snoring
- Recording of oxygen saturation
- Body position
- Chest movements
- Abdominal movements
- Oculography
- Electroencephalogram
Throughout sleep, the recording is checked and the patients are supported directly by the specialists and according to the instructions of the Laboratory Director.
What is recorded during the study?

Information is collected on the function of breathing, the brain, the heart and the muscles. In addition, the stages of sleep, awakenings, desaturations (drop in oxygen, arrhythmias/tachycardias and bradycardias), limb movements, apneas (full interruption of the air flow to the lungs) and hypopneas (interruption of the air flow to the lungs by at least 70%) are recorded. Furthermore, a polysomnography can be performed through positive pressure ventilation (pressure titration study), a sleep study which uses respiratory equipment for the treatment of sleep apnea or hypoventilation syndromes (obesity, neurological/neuromuscular diseases, respiratory diseases).
What happens after diagnosis?

Treatment follows, which can be complex and multi-faceted, depending on the cause. Patient evaluation, clinically and in the lab (with polysomnography), leads to the ideal treatment method for each case.