What Is A Split Sleep Study?

Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014

Question: What is a 'split' sleep study? How is it different than a regular sleep study? What information can you get from a 'split' sleep study that you can't get from a regular study? Thank you for your help. Jacki

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: It gives information and treatment dosage together Detailed Answer: Hi XXXX Thanks for your query. Split sleep study is basically where the patient goes to sleep and the doctor checks his breathing problems during first few hours of his sleep. Then based on the amount of breathing problem, in the next few hours he adjusts the amount of oxygen to give to the patient to prevent the breathing problem. In a regular sleep study the doctor just checks his breathing problems for the entire duration of sleep but does not do anything about it. Both give the same information but in split sleep study you are also getting the dosage of treatment required so you don’t have to come back to the lab again for one more night. Feel free to ask further queries. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Som Biswas (9 minutes later)

Is this helpful when the primary sleep problem is chronic severe insomnia? How can they check for breathing problems during sleep when I don't sleep or have very poor quality of sleep?

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes it is helpful. Detailed Answer: Dear XXXX Yes it is helpful. Let me explain. Most people do not get sleep because of mild breathing problems which is what keeps waking them up or does not allow them to sleep .They do not realize it as its mild so as long as they are awake they do not feel any breathing problem but moment they sleep their lung and nose muscles relax and they get the breathing problem and wake up. Once again it’s so subtle that by the time they wake up they are breathing fine and do not realize why they woke up or not getting sleep. They will check this. It might be the cause of your insomnia or it might NOT be the cause. But they need to check it as it is one of the COMMON causes of insomnia out of the many reasons due to which it can occur. Feel free to contact further. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Som Biswas (13 minutes later)

What about severe delayed sleep phase?. Difficulty going to sleep.

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Not of much use. Detailed Answer: Dear XXXX For severe delayed sleep disorder ,split sleep study is NOT of much use as the person does not go to sleep easily so the test cannot be done properly. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T