The Sleep disorders Clinic and Laboratory has been running in the Department of Neurology, AIIMS, New Delhi, since 1998, initiated by Dr. Manvir Bhatia. At that time, the laboratory space was limited and one bed from our long-term video-EEG monitoring facility was used.
The laboratory:
However, since the year 2005, we have established an advanced Sleep diagnostics facility with a 3-bed laboratory equipped with complete Polysomnography (PSG) equipment, both stationary and portable; with an entire spectrum of diagnostic and titration protocols for adult as well as pediatric patients with all varieties of Sleep disorders.
An example of the type of PSG studies conducted, scored and reported through a meticulous 3-tier (technologist-fellow-Faculty) system over the last year is presented below:
Using various protocols, we have been able to diagnose as well as successfully treat patients with a wide spectrum of multiple and complicated sleep disorders, over the last decade and a half.
In addition, we have been using Actigraphy monitoring for various circadian rhythm sleep disorders as well as for patients with Insomnia, both for diagnosis as well as for therapeutic monitoring and bio-feedback.
The Clinic:
Our Sleep disorders clinic is the back-bone of the facility; under which we have developed evaluation tools, interactive patient information methods, customized treatment protocols for all sleep disorders. We have nearly 1000 patients with Restless legs syndrome (RLS)/Willis Ekbom disease(WED), with or without co-morbidities; among which nearly half are those with primary WED.
We have a large database of patients with all types of Insomnia following up with us. We have devised a comprehensive AIIMS Insomnia Evaluation questionnaire, which is being validated currently. We have offered very effective Insomnia management to a wide variety of patients through our clinic team.
Patients with the entire spectrum of Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) are diagnosed and managed effectively with close follow up and close involvement to encourage adherence to PAP therapy.Our team has successfully used higher positive pressure devices, viz. bilevel PAP – ST mode and adaptive servo ventilation for patients with difficult to treat SDB. Apart from this, we have successfully used multi-modality treatment of SDB for a number of patients.
With the Intractable epilepsy clinic running in parallel with this clinic, we have a large number of patients with various parasomnias and motor disorders of sleep, which have been diagnosed and treated through our clinic.
Training opportunities at Comprehensive Sleep Disorder Unit, Department of Neurology, AIIMS, Delhi
We are in the process of initializing a Fellowship program for Sleep Medicine, at the Department of Neurology, AIIMS. Until then, medical graduates, post-graduates and aspiring Sleep technologists can pursue observer ship for up to 3 months, through the Registrar, AIIMS. Apart from this, medical graduates can apply for the PhD program for which information can be obtained through the AIIMS website.