[The sleep apnea syndrome. Basic diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities].

The sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) involves impaired regular breathing during sleep. It causes poor quality sleep and thus subsequent somnolence in daytime, it leads to periodic oxygen desaturation and has serious cardiovascular consequences. The authors describe methods used for the diagnosis and quantification of the intensity of SAS which they used (all-night extended polysomnography, ambulatory equipment MESAM 4 and afternoon polysomnography) and they list also the main therapeutic procedures used in SAS.