Polysomnography
1. Big picture
Polysomnography (PSG) is the most complete sleep-laboratory investigation. In the exam, you should describe it as overnight multiparametric monitoring of sleep, breathing, heart rhythm, oxygenation, movements, and sleep stages.
The examiner usually wants three things:
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What is recorded? EEG, electrooculogram, chin EMG, ECG, airflow, respiratory effort, oxygen saturation, body position, snoring, limb EMG.
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What is it used for? Mainly obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoventilation, periodic limb movement disorder, parasomnias, REM sleep behavior disorder, and as preparation before Multiple Sleep Latency Test for narcolepsy.
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What does it show? Sleep stages, sleep efficiency, arousals, apneas/hypopneas, oxygen desaturation, limb movements, REM abnormalities, and cardiovascular changes during sleep.
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