This diagnostic process includes the continual monitoring of a affected person’s blood oxygen saturation ranges whereas they sleep. A small system, usually connected to a fingertip or earlobe, makes use of gentle to measure the share of hemoglobin within the blood that’s carrying oxygen. The info collected is then recorded and analyzed to determine any important drops in oxygen ranges throughout the night time. For instance, a affected person suspected of getting sleep apnea would possibly endure this analysis to find out the severity and frequency of desaturation occasions.
This non-invasive evaluation performs a vital position in figuring out respiratory disturbances that happen throughout sleep. Its advantages embody early detection of situations like sleep apnea, which may result in varied cardiovascular and different well being issues if left untreated. Traditionally, such a monitoring supplied a less complicated and extra accessible various to polysomnography, significantly in conditions the place full sleep lab research should not available or acceptable.