CARDIORESPIRATORY SLEEP STUDIES FOR CHILDREN CAN OFTEN BE PERFORMED IN THE HOME

We developed a portable recording system, suitable for unattended use in a patient's home, that quantitates the essential diagnostic element s of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea sysndrome (OSAS): obstructive, mixed and central apneas and hyponeas: hemoglobin saturation, sleep vs . wakefulness; body and head positions: snoring; and sleep disturbance . The present paper reviews validation studies and summarizes two rece nt studies that demonstrate the unique advantages of performing clinic al and research cardiorespiratory sleep studies in the child's home. D evelopment of inexpensive, portable recorders that integrate audiovisu al and physiologic information will make such home recordings more wid ely available.