Therapy of sleep disorders
Here you will find information on all therapeutic options at the Interdisciplinary Sleep Medicine Center.
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Patients with sleep related breathing disorders
If a sleep related breathing disorder is assumed during the preliminary outpatient examination and it is then confirmed by the polysomnography at the sleep lab a treatment with a nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device is initiated according to the indication. The CPAP therapy is the most effective treatment (appr. 85% of the treated patients) of patients with sleep related breathing disorders.
The air pressure is an individual value for each patient and is normally adjusted during 2 nights at the sleep lab under the cardiorespiratory polysomnographic control. At the same time the patient is intensively trained on how to use his CPAP machine, he receives a detailed clarification of the disease patterns, breathing therapy and advice for CPAP device.
Leaving the sleep lab the patient receives his own breathing machine; exceptions are different care plans of some medical insurance companies.
Unless otherwise agreed at therapy initiation, check-ups are carried out in a facility with the possibility of outpatient sleep apnea measurement by a resident specialist.
Here you find further Information about a CPAP machine.
Patients with Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome (PLMS) / Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
Patients with PLM Syndrome (often associated with breathing disorders) can receive a medication treatment during their stay at the sleep lab. The success of this treatment in most cases can be unfortunately detected only after a long period of time. Under certain circumstances a repeated polysomnographic control at the sleep lab is required.
Patients with Hypersomnia
In patients with hypersomnia a therapy of daytime sleepiness with medication can be done after a second night stay in the sleep lab. If needed a therapy of the disordered sleep structure or of the cataplexy in cases of narcolepsy can be done during the stay for the third night in the sleep lab.
What should I bring to the Sleep Laboratory?
- Prescrition order (from the primary care physician or our outpatient service)
- Confirmation of cost coverage of your medical insurance (especially in case of a CPAP treatment)
- Your medical insurance card
- Medication, which you take on the regular basis (for the whole period of stay at the hospital)
- Eventually available medical reports of the examinations during last 4 months (X-rays, ultrasound, blood values, lung function tests etc.)
- Night clothes, personal toiletries
- Bedtime treat, reading material, etc.
Who should I address to with problems after the initiated therapy?
The staff of the Interdisciplinary Sleep Medicine Center always tries the best to find the best possible solution in a shortest time in case of problems.
- Patients with a CPAP Therapy can contact the Sleep Laboratory directly during the first 4 weeks of the therapy.
- You can contact us by phone ( +49 30 450 513 232) during the office hours of the outpatient department (Mon-Fri: 8.00-15.00 hrs). Alternatively you can send us a fax ( +49 30 450 513 906) or write an Email.
- Patients who have been adjusted to ventilation therapy can also contact the sleep laboratory directly during the first 2 weeks after the start of therapy.
- In case of permanent problems, which cannot be solved by your general practitioner or your specialist, you can also make an appointment for the sleep medical ambulance of the Charité.