SIMPLE SLEEP STUDY

SLEEP STUDIES measure how well your child is breathing while asleep. Your child will be brought into the hospital and while your child is asleep, we will measure heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, chest wall movement, air flow. Some patients also have blood tests as part of the test. If your child has special equipment (oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, ventilator, tracheostomy tube, etc), be sure to bring it with you for the test. It is important for us to use the same equipment you use at home.

No. The sleep study will not hurt. Some children are anxious because they are not used to the bed or the noise of the hospital. Please bring any toys, blankets, etc. from home which may help your child feel comfortable.

Your lung doctor will tell you if your child needs a blood test. If your child has a blood test, there may be some discomfort from the needle

Yes. There are no risks from performing this test.

In general, the doctor referring you for the test will already have arranged for authorization for your test by your insurance company. But it is your responsibility to have authorization before the test. Be sure to talk with the pulmonary office and confirm that the authorization is completed.

Register for the test at the hospital registration area 15 minutes before the test is scheduled.

For Children’s Hospital Oakland, go to the Sleep Laboratory on 2ND Floor of Main Hospital. 747 52nd Street, Oakland.

For California Pacific Medical Center, go to the Pediatric ICU on 3rd Floor of Pacific Campus at 2333 Buchanan Street, San Francisco (at corner of Buchanan and Clay Streets).

The test itself will take all night. You should plan to arrive in the early evening and to leave by mid-morning.

Normal clothing for sleep. Please bring any toys, blankets, from home that may help your child feel comfortable.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, your child should use all routine medications.

Yes. Your child should avoid any foods which will make it more difficult to sleep (caffeine, chocolate, soda, etc.) Otherwise your child can eat normally before the test.

Probably Not. To help your child sleep for the test, please SLEEP DEPRIVE YOUR CHILD by putting your child to bed later than usual the night before the test AND by waking your child up early the day of the test. A child who is already tired will need less medication for sedation.

Probably not. In some cases, children do need SEDATION to encourage sleep.

Benadryl or chloral hydrate may be used. Chloral hydrate is a safe medicine that is sweet, sticky and slightly bitter. It usually works well.

No.

NO. This test is usually used to measure how you are doing on a regular day. If you are sick, the test will need to be cancelled—unless your doctor says you should still do the test. Please call the lab as soon as you think you will not be able to do the test. We will need to reschedule the test.

Notify the Pulmonary office staff at (510-428-3305) AND the Pulmonary Function Lab (CHO 510-428-3311; CPMC 415-428-3995) ASAP. If your child needs to have the test cancelled or rescheduled, we need to know as soon as possible so that we can allow another child to get tested.

If you need to cancel the test the weekend or night before the scheduled test, please call the pulmonologist on-call at 510-428-3000 and notify the doctor that they must contact the PFT lab right away.

If you cancel the test without a valid reason, with less than 24 hours notice you will be charged a fee.

A copy of the results will be sent to your regular doctor and any specialist who referred you for the test. Your doctors should have the results of the test within 2 weeks of the test.

Your lung doctor should discuss the results of the tests with you and your child’s doctor.

This will be up to you and your doctor.