Examination

Polysomnography (PSG)  

Polysomnography (PSG) is an internationally recognized test for the diagnosis of OSA and other sleep disorders. It uses digital techniques to monitor patients for irregular breathing, snoring, nasal and oral airflow, heartbeat, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, and other indicators. PSG monitors and records in real time, ensuring accuracy and strong supporting evidence for surgery or other treatment solutions.

Jiahui Sleep Apnea Clinic provides two kinds of PSG sleep monitoring exams: inpatient PSG and home sleep apnea testing (HSAT). Our physicians will recommend the most suitable method according to your needs.

-Inpatient PSG sleep monitoring

With the help of a professional nursing team, patients complete inpatient sleep monitoring by staying in one of our inpatient wards for a night. When you check out the following morning, you will be able to schedule a follow-up consultation with an ENT specialist to discuss the results of the test.

Before going to bed, you will be fitted with monitoring equipment, such as nasal catheters, chest and abdomen straps, and electrodes that are attached to the head, chest and legs and connected to a monitor. There are no conditions or factors that prevent patients from taking a PSG test, though some patients may experience mild discomfort.

Jiahui International Hospital has a beautiful environment, having been awarded the LEED HC Green Medical Building Gold Certification, guaranteeing a comfortable and relaxing night’s sleep.

Home sleep apnea testing (HSAT)

Home sleep apnea monitoring (HSAT) is recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe OSA symptoms, and no history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, or other serious sleep-related conditions, as well as the assessment of OSA treatment effect (ventilator therapy, orthodontics, and post-surgery).

A nurse will instruct you how to put on the monitoring equipment, which you will wear overnight at home while you sleep. The next day, simply return to the hospital with the equipment and schedule a follow-up consultation with an ENT specialist to discuss the results of the test.

-PSG/HSAT for children

The basic testing procedures are the same for both children and adults. We provide child-sized monitoring equipment and accessories to ensure a comfortable experience

Treatment

Our ENT specialists provide personalized treatment plans and long-term follow-up guidance based on specific causes and conditions, combined with PSG and other examination.

Adults

-Positive-pressure ventilation

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends positive airway pressure therapy for all patients diagnosed with OSA. It is a mode of respiratory ventilation where mild air pressure is applied to the airways through a flow generator, hose and face mask.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a form of positive-pressure ventilation in which mild air pressure is applied on a continuous basis to keep the airways open. It is suitable for severe snoring and all degrees of OSA. Patients with moderate to severe OSA who receive this treatment experience a significant reduction in clinical symptoms, including snoring, daytime sleepiness, and hypertension, as well increased work productivity.

-Surgical treatment

For OSA patients with craniofacial or upper airway abnormalities, surgical treatment may be considered, including tonsillectomy, UPPP, maxillary advancement surgery, and hyoid suspension.

-Lifestyle changes

For patients with mild OSA, suggestions include: weight loss, sleeping on your side, and quitting smoking and alcohol. However, for those with moderate to severe OSA, sleep ventilator treatment is still recommended in addition to lifestyle changes.

Children

-Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

For children, enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most common causes of OSA.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) recommend tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for children over the age of 2 with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, provided no other health problems are present.

Jiahui’s ENT department uses low-temperature, minimally invasive plasma ablation, for a precise and safe operation with minimal bleeding and damage to surrounding tissue. An adenoidectomy (removal of the adenoids) is a simple outpatient procedure that usually lasts half an hour. After a few hours, your child will be fully recovered and able go home the same day. A tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) may require a longer stay in the hospital depending on the circumstances.

-Positive-pressure ventilation

Positive airway pressure treatment is applicable to children with: 

• tonsils/adenoids that are not enlarged
• OSA symptoms that continue after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy
• craniofacial abnormalities
• high-risk contraindications for tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (determined by a specialist)