Overview
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).
Benefits
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.
How to Prepare
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.
