Monash sleep researchers well represented at Sleep DownUnder

Dr Sarah Biggs

Researchers from The Ritchie Centre’s Infant and Child Health group and the Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children’s Hospital attended Sleep DownUnder, the annual scientific meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association and the Australasian Sleep Technologists Association held at the Melbourne Convention Centre last week.

In the largest meeting ever held, the group of Monash researchers presented 14 of the 49 Paediatric sleep presentations, including a plenary talk by Associate Professor Gillian Nixon and two researchers winning prizes.

“Sleep DownUnder saw over 700 expert sleep clinicians and scientists from Australia and New Zealand come together to share the latest advancements and innovations in the world of sleep science and clinical practice,” said conference Chair Dr Sarah Biggs from The Ritchie Centre.

The diverse five-day program included a variety of professional development courses across a number of specialties such as dentistry, surgery, occupational health and safety, nursing, and cardiology.

“There were also three solid days of presentations by both international and local experts on every facet of sleep health from sleep apnoea, insomnia, and narcolepsy through to the damaging effects of stimulants and using electronics in the bedroom on sleep,” added Dr Biggs. 

Neonatal trainee Dr Katharine Jamieson who worked this year in the Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre at Monash Children’s Hospital won the best poster prize for the advanced trainee section.

Dr Jamieson’s project, ‘Understanding respiratory compromise on the first post-operative night after paediatric adenotonsillectomy- the contribution of downloadable oximetry recordings’ aims to understand more about the serious respiratory complications that some children have during their recovery from adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea.

“We measured children’s oxygen levels overnight on the first night after their surgery and compared the result to the tests they had before the surgery, allowing us to see how quickly the sleep apnoea improves after surgery,” said Associate Professor Nixon.

“It also helps us better predict who might run into trouble with their breathing during their recovery from surgery and helps us plan the care of children having this operation in the future.”

This work is part of ongoing collaboration between specialists in the departments of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, ENT and Anaesthesia at Monash Health that aims to optimise care of children having adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Also acknowledged at the meeting for her research, Dr Lisa Walter from The Ritchie Centre was awarded the Early Career travel award to attend the American Sleep Meeting in Denver in 2016.

Professor Rosemary Horne congratulated conference Chair Dr Sarah Biggs for organising a fantastic meeting.