NBRC SDS case studies
NBRC SDS · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Sleep Disorders Specialty (SDS) Examination is an NBRC specialty credentialing exam that objectively measures the knowledge and skills of respiratory therapists who perform sleep disorders testing and therapeutic intervention. It goes beyond general respiratory care to focus on competencies unique to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders, and earning the CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS badge signals specialized skill to employers, colleagues, and patients. The NBRC SDS case studies are 5 cases and about 4,680 words.
1Split-Night Decision at 01:10 With Incomplete REM Sampling
A 46-year-old man (BMI 38, neck circumference 18.5 in) is being studied for loud snoring, witnessed apneas, and dozing at traffic lights; Epworth Sleepiness Scale score is 16. Laboratory policy permits conversion to a split night when accepted criteria are met and at least 3 hours remain for titration.
909 words, about 5 min2Residual Hypopneas at 10 cm H2O: Pressure Problem or Leak Problem?
A 58-year-old woman (BMI 33) with treated hypertension is undergoing in-laboratory CPAP titration after a diagnostic study showing an AHI of 44/hr and a nadir SpO2 of 82%. She is fitted with a nasal pillow mask.
966 words, about 5 min3MSLT Scheduled Five Days After Stopping Venlafaxine in a Shift Worker
A 27-year-old woman is referred for a multiple sleep latency test because of 2 years of daily sleepiness (Epworth 18) and two episodes of knee buckling while laughing. She works rotating 12-hour shifts and reports 5–6 hours in bed on work nights.
943 words, about 5 min4Oxygen Ordered Empirically During CPAP Titration in Hypercapnic COPD
A 67-year-old man with GOLD 3 COPD (FEV1 42% predicted), chronic bronchitis, and a 45 pack-year history is referred for a sleep study because of morning headaches and daytime somnolence. Awake room-air arterial blood gas: pH 7.40, PaCO2 44 mm Hg, PaO2 63 mm Hg, bicarbonate 27 mEq/L.
951 words, about 5 min5ASV Requested for Central Sleep Apnea With an Ejection Fraction of 28%
A 71-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction 28%, NYHA class III), treated with sacubitril-valsartan, carvedilol, and spironolactone, is referred for initiation of adaptive servo-ventilation. Diagnostic polysomnography shows an AHI of 42/hr with 86% central events, a Cheyne–Stokes pattern in both NREM and REM, a nadir SpO2 of 81%, and 30% of total sleep time below 90%.
911 words, about 5 min