How does a technician measure airflow during polysomnography?

Measuring airflow during polysomnography is primarily accomplished with the use of a nasal pressure transducer or a thermistor. These devices are specifically designed to detect the pressure changes that occur in the nasal passages as a patient breathes. A nasal pressure transducer uses a small catheter placed just inside the nostrils to measure the difference in air pressure, while a thermistor measures the temperature of air as it flows in and out of the nostrils, allowing for the calculation of airflow rates.

These methods are crucial in polysomnography as they provide objective data that can be analyzed for diagnosing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. In contrast, using a chest strap monitoring method primarily assesses respiratory effort rather than airflow itself, and visual observation of breathing patterns, while useful, lacks the precise quantification that instruments provide. A mouthpiece measurement may not be suitable for all patients, especially those who predominantly breathe through their noses during sleep. Hence, the use of a nasal pressure transducer or thermistor is the most effective method for accurately measuring airflow.