Pulse transit time as a measure of sleep apnea syndrome in children

Abstract

We evaluated methods of diagnosing sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in children. Measurement by polysomnography and esophageal manometry are the current gold standard techniques for obstructive sleep disturbance. However, the placement of an esophageal catheter and other sensors are uncomfortable, especially in children. The pulse transit time (PTT) is thought to function as a noninvasive marker of negative pleural pressure and subcortical arousal. PTT with PSG is useful for distinguishing between obstructive apnea and central apnea. There are significant correlations between the Apnea-Hypopnea index in hypno PTT^TM and PSG. The arousal index in hypno PTT^TM was not less sensitive than the EEG arousal index in our four cases. The sleep parameters using PTT were improved before and after adeno-tonsillectomy; moreover hypno PTT^TM is simple and useful for the detection of sleep apnea syndrome. It is thought that PTT allows a quantitative estimation of the inspiratory effort in SAS with children.