Pediatric oxygen titration

Dallas

214-456-2793
Fax: 214-456-5885

Plano

469-303-4200
Fax: 469-303-4225

Request an Appointment with codes: Sleep Center

What is pediatric oxygen titration?

Oxygen titration is used as part of a sleep study to determine blood oxygen saturation (SPO2). Oxygen titration can be used again as a treatment for sleeping disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

What are the benefits of pediatric oxygen titration?

Oxygen titration allows doctors to determine a patient's baseline blood oxygen saturation. When children undergo a sleep study, one of the tests they receive is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration. Low levels of oxygen may mean a child's excessive daytime sleepiness or insomnia is due to a disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

While some kids may have excessive daytime sleepiness, younger children may have daytime symptoms such as:

Behavioral issues
Hyperactivity
Inability to concentrate
Poor performance in school

In severe cases, children may display a failure to thrive or have symptoms of right-sided heart failure.

What can I expect before pediatric oxygen titration?

Around 2% of children have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Besides making it difficult for your child to sleep, OSAS can reduce oxygen levels in the blood and may even be life-threatening. Oxygen titration is a procedure that can both diagnose and treat kids with OSAS.

If your doctor suspects an underlying sleep disorder, he will refer you to a specialist for a sleep study. During the sleep study, your child will spend the night in a sleep lab. Part of the study, known as CPAP titration, measures how much oxygen is in your child’s blood as well as if her airways stay open during sleep. Sometimes sleep studies are split over two nights to test your child both with and without oxygen titration. If titration allows your child to sleep normally, the sleep specialist may prescribe ongoing titration at home.

What can I expect during pediatric oxygen titration?

Sleep Disorders CPAP - Children's Health In children, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) can be due to small airways or enlarged tonsils.

Besides snoring, symptoms of sleep apnea may include pauses in breathing that can last from ten seconds to a few minutes, several times an hour. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration during the sleep study can tell doctors whether your child needs oxygen at home.

If the doctor determines that oxygen titration is the right treatment, the sleep specialist will prescribe a CPAP machine for your child. You should work closely with the doctor to determine the right settings and comfort level. Masks can be custom-made to fit your child.

How do I prepare my child for pediatric oxygen titration at home?

Using a CPAP machine can be a difficult adjustment for many children. Doctors recommend desensitizing infants and young kids to get them used to the process.

Daytime desensitization

Introducing your child to the mask.
Placing the mask on your child's face, attaching the hose to one side of the cap and turning the air on for 5 seconds.
Repeating the above procedure for 10 seconds and again for 1 minute.
Attaching the hose to both sides of the cap and repeating the above steps.
Having your child wear the mask while lying down, as the air flows for 10 minutes and then again for 15 minutes.

Nighttime desensitization

Begin running the CPAP machine in your child's room without attaching the mask for a few nights (so they get used to the noise).
Once the CPAP is part of the bedtime routine, try to get your child to fall asleep with the mask on their face (with the air on) for 15 minutes.
Repeat the above nightly until your child begins to fall asleep on his own with the mask in place.

If the mask falls off during the night (or your child removes it), attempt to replace it without waking your child.