The first step on the road to undisturbed sleep
Sleep problems are associated with mental and physical health problems, an increased risk of injury, and decreased productivity.
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, so we can say that sleep is a biological necessity. During sleep, our body rests and cognitive functions are restored.
Resting the brain with sleep is important for memory, learning new information, ability to solve problems, making decisions, appropriate attention, stabilization and control of emotions, and encouraging creativity.
Sleep problems are associated with mental and physical health problems, an increased risk of injury, and decreased productivity.
Somnoscopy, sleep video endoscopy, or sleep endoscopy is a powerful tool for studying airway dynamics in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Based on the results obtained from testing, it is possible to adjust the therapy to suit the patient using surgical and non-surgical methods or a combination.
Sleep endoscopy is performed at the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and otorhinolaryngologist, lasts for several hours and after that the patient is discharged home.
The procedure is extremely tolerable because we do not use tubes for intubation. You are given a sleep medication, and we monitor your vital signs during sleep. During the examination, we use a special flexible endoscope that monitors the level of upper respiratory tract collapse during sleep in real time.
Sleep endoscopy is recommended for patients with obstructive sleep apnea for the best possible success of sleep disorder therapy.
Endoscopy in sleep is performed to determine the place of collapse of the upper respiratory tract, localization, shape and degree of damage.
Since it is not possible to perform diagnostics in patients in a waking state, as part of somnoscopy, we intravenously administer sleep medication and monitor body functions during sleep.
During the examination, we use a modern flexible endoscope, i.e. a fiberendoscope that allows a detailed examination.
A fiberendoscope is a flexible, thin tube that contains a camera and a light source for better visibility. The camera transmits the image to a digital screen, thus enabling a detailed examination of parts of the throat, pharynx and nasal cavity that are otherwise difficult to see during a classic clinical examination.
The examination is painless and is performed under the supervision of our professional staff, lasts a few hours, after which you can go home.
Before performing a somnoscopy , you will fill out a standardized form from which our anesthesiologist will receive the necessary information about your health condition.
On the day of the test, you will be admitted to the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic where the anesthesiologist and otorhinolaryngologist will first explain the procedure for performing the test.
Somnoscopy is performed using sleep medications.
When you fall asleep, the devices monitor your vital signs; heart rate, oxygen levels, and more. With a fiberendoscope, we monitor in real time the level of collapse of the upper part of the airway during sleep.
When processing the results, we use a classification system to objectify the findings of airway obstruction of patients with obstructive apnea and thus determine the level and degree of obstruction.
The procedure takes about 2 hours including preparation time and time for complete recovery, after which you can go home.
Before discharge, you will receive an explanation from our professional staff where the exact location of the breathing obstruction is and what the exact plan of your further treatment is.
The Multidisciplinary Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Problems of the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic brings together internationally recognized sleep specialists – somnologists.
Our team of doctors will diagnose your sleep problems with the help of state-of-the-art tests that include polygraphy, polysomnography, and sleep endoscopy.
We believe in the value of a good and quick diagnosis and the offer of the right, concrete and individual therapeutic method appropriate to the individual case.
Apnea is a common problem characterized by repeated respiratory arrests during sleep. These congestion is caused by a narrowing of the upper part of the airway. Because of this, the body is under incredible pressure, blood pressure can rise significantly, and sleep is fragmented and not at all restful.
Various population studies conducted in America, Europe, Australia and Asia have shown that 1 in 5 adults have a mild form of OSA, and 1 in 15 has moderate or severe.
Obstructive sleep apnea consists of episodes of stopping breathing for at least 10 seconds. Episodes are usually accompanied by increased, rapid breathing, lack of oxygen (feeling of suffocation) and awakening.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common and often unrecognized medical problem. More than 85% of people with clinically significant and potentially curable OSA have never been diagnosed, and untreated OSA worsens over time.
The drop in oxygen concentration in the blood that occurs due to each interruption of breathing during sleep is associated with heart problems, arteria, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure and stroke.
Obstructive apnea can be difficult to identify. Symptoms such as fatigue, daytime sleepiness or morning headaches are often attributed to other conditions or treated as normal. Symptoms and signs of disturbed sleep occur during sleep, but also during wakefulness, so we can divide them into day and night symptoms of OSA.
One of the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. It negatively affects the quality of sleep, it is prevalent in the older male population, but it also affects women. Snoring is not only a problem for those who find themselves in close proximity to the person who snores.
It is caused by a narrowing of the airways and additional vibration of the tissues at the site of the narrowing. This can happen in different places in the mouth and throat.
A person who snores is usually not aware of their own snoring and cannot control it, and it can be one of the signs that warn of a serious disorder. It manifests itself as a rough, sometimes very noisy and hoarse-trembling sound that is produced during sleep.
It is estimated that 45% of adults snore occasionally, while 25% of adults snore regularly. Overweight, middle-aged or older men and postmenopausal women are more predisposed to snoring. Loud snoring accompanied by pauses in breathing and loud snorting or panting when the sleeper takes another breath can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea.
Making a diagnosis of OSA for people with breathing disorders during sleep begins with a detailed insight into day and night symptoms, screening methods such as sleepiness questionnaires and tests such as polygraphy, polysomnography and videoendoscopy of sleep.
The significance of somnoscopy is in revealing the exact location of the collapse of the upper respiratory tract. Thanks to sleep endoscopy, it is possible to adjust the existing therapy in accordance with the results in order to achieve a better effect, determine the need for surgical therapy or a combination of different therapeutic techniques.
Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea requires a multidisciplinary approach and may include non-surgical and surgical methods, depending on the cause of OSA. For mild cases, proper sleep hygiene and a change in lifestyle habits may be sufficient.
To ensure undisturbed sleep and reduce snoring, here are practical tips that you can apply right away:
These tips can be applied with little effort, and they can significantly contribute to healthy sleep. For patients suffering from moderate or severe obstructive apnoea, it may be necessary to make additional changes to their sleep habits to achieve visible results.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a structured program that helps identify thoughts and behaviors that cause sleep problems. It allows patients to adopt healthy sleep habits while recognizing the thoughts and behavioral patterns that cause poor sleep quality.
The CPAP machine is known and very effective in treating people with a severe form of obstructive sleep apnea. It is a mask that is worn during sleep and provides breathing support with continuous positive pressure.
A certain proportion of people with sleep apnea or snoring are eligible for surgery that permanently solves their problem. In order to determine whether you are a candidate for surgical treatment, it is necessary to perform an ENT examination, counseling at the polyclinic and somnoscopy.
A dental sleep splint is a simple and effective method against snoring and sleep apnea. Today, there are various dental splints on the market that have different mechanisms of action, duration, wearing comfort, and the like.
The main goal of LF Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with top-notch healthcare services.
