Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

What diagnostic procedure would you recommend for a patient showing signs of sleep-disordered breathing?

1. Chest X-Ray

2. Polysomnography

3. CT Scan of the Chest

4. Lung Function Tests

The correct answer is: Polysomnography

Polysomnography is considered the gold standard for diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing, especially conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. This comprehensive overnight sleep study records various physiological parameters during sleep, including brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing patterns, and eye and leg movements. By capturing these metrics, polysomnography allows healthcare providers to assess the severity of sleep-disordered breathing and identify specific abnormalities in a patient's sleep architecture. In contrast, while a chest X-ray may provide some information about overall lung health and structural abnormalities, it does not specifically evaluate sleep-related breathing issues. A CT scan of the chest is more detailed and useful for assessing certain lung conditions or lesions but is not the optimal choice for diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing directly. Lung function tests assess airflow and gas exchange but do not provide insight into the complexities of sleep patterns and apnea episodes, which are crucial for an accurate diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing. Thus, polysomnography is the most appropriate and effective diagnostic procedure for this condition.