Performing sleep studies after the COVID-19 outbreak: practical suggestions from Bologna's sleep unit

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic required a thorough re-organization of every sector of the healthcare system. Sleep laboratories need to renew protocols in order to guarantee the safety of patients and healthcare staff while providing exams. Polysomnography (PSG) examinations are essential for the diagnosis and treatment management of several sleep disorders, which may constitute a public or personal safety issue such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Here we provide some practical advice on how to perform sleep studies after the COVID-19 outbreak based on our experience, the review of the existing literature and current national and international recommendations by Health Authorities. We believe that with appropriate precautions it is possible to guarantee a safe restart of PSG and other sleep studies. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, sleep laboratories must update protocols to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare staff during sleep studies. Polysomnography examinations are crucial for diagnosing and treating various sleep disorders, and with appropriate precautions, a safe restart of PSG and other sleep studies is possible.