Can I get both a diagnosis and a CPAP fitting in during one sleep study?

This question was asked in 7 Corners, Virginia on 03/08/2012.
I have suffered from sleep apnea for years and am desperate to get some good sleep. My sibling uses a CPAP and has had surgery for his apnea. I was noted as moderate in 2000. I need to schedule a sleep study but would also like to be sure that one sleep study will diagnose and allow for fitting of the CPAP. I have BC/BS Carefirst Preferred PPO.

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Doctors Answers (3)

Marjorie Yong, M.D.
Answered on: 3/9/2012 1

That should be possible as long as you are able to sleep for the amount of time that is required to obtain the baseline data.

Richard J. Schumann Jr., MD
Answered on: 3/8/2012 6

If you have a strong possibility of sleep disordered breathing including sleep apnea you can get a diagnostic and therapeutic test in the form of a split night study in the sleep lab in one night. The first part of the test will be used to diagnose the severity of your sleep apnea. If you meet this criterion then the second part of the night may be used to titrate CPAP to eliminate snoring and apnea events. You could then be prescribed this therapy after one night and it can be fined tuned as an outpatient under the guidance of a sleep specialist as necessary.

Farhad Sigari, MD, FACS
Answered on: 3/8/2012 6

Usually yes! There are two types of sleep studies. 1. A diagnostic sleep study which will monitor your heart rate, EEG, respirations, pulse oximetry, while you sleep. The second is called a "Split Night" Study. It starts out as a diagnostic study and if the patient shows enough signs of sleep apnea in the first several hours of sleep, then CPAP therapy is initiated and the right setting is titration. However, some patients don't show enough signs of sleep apnea to meet to the criteria and have to get another study. I usually order the Split Night study on all my patient initially in attempt to minimize the number of times they have to go to the sleep lab. If you are in Southern California, my office will be happy to help you.