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Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Night-to-night variability of polysomnography in children with suspected obstructive sleep apnea

Eliot S Katz1, Mary G Greene, Kathryn A Carson

  • 1Eudowood Divison of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|May 29, 2002
PubMed

Insights

A single night of polysomnography is adequate for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children. This study found minimal night-to-night variability, suggesting one test reliably measures pediatric OSAS.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is common in children with sleep-disordered breathing.
  • Assessing OSAS severity often relies on polysomnography (PSG).
  • Concerns exist regarding night-to-night variability in PSG results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reliability of a single PSG night for diagnosing pediatric OSAS.
  • To determine the extent of night-to-night variability in key PSG parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 30 children (1.6-11.3 years) with snoring.
  • Two nocturnal PSG recordings were performed 7-27 days apart.
  • Respiratory and sleep parameters were analyzed for night-to-night differences.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were found in apnea index, apnea/hypopnea index, or oxygen saturation between nights.
  • Sleep efficiency, arousal index, and REM/slow wave sleep percentages were stable.
  • The clinical diagnosis of OSAS remained consistent for all children.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric polysomnography exhibits minimal clinically significant night-to-night variability.
  • A single PSG night is a reliable measure for diagnosing OSAS in children with sleep-disordered breathing symptoms.
  • No first-night effect was observed in this pediatric cohort.
Abstract

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