Andhra Pradesh: Sleep Lab to be introduced in Andhra Medical College

Vishakhapatnam: Andhra Medical College-King George hospital is to be the first government recipient of a sleep lab in the state. The equipment required for it has already been ordered.

A day long workshop was organized in Andhra Medical College(AMC) Seminar Hall and visiting doctors from the All India Institute of medical Sciences spoke on topics related to the disease.

Dr K Babji, Director of Medical Education (DME), the Chief Guest at the workshop revealed that setting up of sleep disorder labs in various government hospitals was the brainchild of Principal Health Secretary, AP, Dr Poonam Malakondaiah . The first device however, is to be initiated at KGH-AMC.

The order for the polysomnography device to find sleep pattern of patients by recording their brain waves has been placed..

Speaking about it, Principal of AMC, Dr PV Sudhakar told the TOI, "The sleep lab would be set up in the super-specialty block, probably attached to the neurology department. The patients complaining of sleep related issues would be put to sleep and the polysomnography machine would be connected to the patient. Thus sleep pattern can be traced through ECG-like graphs and cases of sleep apnea or breathing difficulty while sleeping can also be found. Accordingly, treatment can be undertaken either through surgery or through altered lifestyle."

The workshop, was attended by post graduate doctors and assistant professors from the departments of pulmonary medicine, neurology, physiology, general medicine and ENT (AIIMS).

The doctors from AIIMS spoke on various types of sleep disorder.They also discussed to what extent sleep disorder information could be made part of curriculum and the ways to manage sleep disorder. Around 75 doctors and delegates were part of this workshop.