Poligrafía respiratoria en el diagnóstico de los trastornos respiratorios durante el sue？o: Una herramienta necesaria para el neumonólogo

the respiratory polygraphy (rp) is a useful method for the diagnosis of sleep apnea when it is indicated in high risk patients and meets basic technical requirements for quality. when rp is interpreted in conjunction with a comprehensive evaluation of sleep, it shortens waiting lists approaching the sleep laboratory to the home, and allows the assessment of respiratory performance during sleep in a more natural environment under usual conditions similar to those when the patient is ready to sleep. technological developments have brought a considerable reduction in size and weight and in the costs of the recording devices, which can be used bedside and connected to therapeutics devices (cpap or non invasive ventilator). also, they have increased the accessibility to diagnostic process of small units with limited technical resources expanding the diagnostic horizon of the pulmonologist. the polygraphy or polysomnography is still very important to define with certainty doubtful cases and it is the standard method which should be taken to assess the progress of new accessible methods for the study of these diseases.