[tri-med] Re: Mieko update - apnea

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Maya Nishikawa"
>>during a sleep study they can also
> figure out if there is an obstruction vs. central
> apnea. They put a sensor under the child's nose.

And a band around their chest.

If you want a guide (and I do mean a guide) to check at home - with central 
apneas there is no chest movement during breathing - so O2 sats drop and 
there is no chest movement - they stop breathing totally. Because of this 
its only central apneas that are detected with movement type apnea monitors 
eg apnea mats, or apnea monitors that go around the babies chest. With 
obstructive apnea they are still trying to breath, so there is chest 
movement, but they are unable to get oxygen in. These apneas are not 
detected on the most common of apnea monitors - but you can see them quite 
clearly when you have a pulse oxometer.

Of course if you are having apneas related to seizures, apneas related to an 
inability to expel CO2 or mixed apneas (and a myriad of other types) that 
complicates the whole picture and you would really need a sleep study and an 
expert to differentiate.

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