Our sleep medicine experts are international leaders in drug-induced sleep endoscopy, an evaluation technique that guides the selection of surgical procedures for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of drug-induced sleep endoscopy is to determine what is causing the blockage of breathing.
During this procedure, conducted in an operating room, the patient receives just enough sedation to drift off, creating an experience similar to sleep. The physician then uses an endoscope to look inside the patient’s throat to watch the blockage in breathing.
Drug-induced sleep endoscopy is not a substitute for a sleep study that evaluates breathing patterns. A sleep study is required to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. The drug-induced sleep endoscopy shows where the blockage in breathing is occurring, improving the selection of surgical procedures.