Craniofacial syndromes and sleep-related breathing disorders

Occlusal, chewing, and tasting characteristics associated with orofacial dysfunctions in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to assess the associations between orofacial dysfunctions with malocclusion, masticatory performance, and taste in children with and without unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A patient-based, matched, case-control study was conducted involving 108 8- to 10-year-old children divided in UCLP and control groups. Orofacial dysfunctions were evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S). Orthodontic treatment need was evaluated using the Goslon Yardstick Index (GYI) and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) of patients and controls, respectively. Masticatory performance was assessed using a chewable test material to determine median particle size (X ₅₀) and distribution of particles in different sieves (b value). Taste perception was evaluated using four solutions (sweet, salty, bitter, or acid) in three different concentrations.

RESULTS

More than half of the patients needed orthodontic surgery. UCLP group presented higher median particle size and needed more chewing cycles to comminute the artificial test into particles smaller than the median than those of controls. UCLP group had less perception of salty flavor than controls. There was a positive correlation between b value and NOT-S examination score for patients. In regression analysis, a significant interrelationship was observed between NOT-S examination score and b value.

CONCLUSIONS

In the UCLP patients, masticatory performance was compromised probably as a result of facial asymmetry and speech disturbance; whereas, taste was less perceived only for salty flavor.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These findings provide preliminary evidence that mastication and taste are altered in children with UCLP, so these factors must be followed up to ensure oral and general health in growing individuals.

When and why to treat the child who snores?

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can result in cardiovascular and neurocognitive morbidity as well as adversely affect behavior, growth, quality of life, and nocturnal continence. This article summarizes the latest evidence regarding the morbidity related to obstructive SDB, commenting on the impact of severity of obstruction, that is, the difference in effects seen of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) compared to those of mild OSAS or primary snoring. The impact of therapy is discussed, focusing on which children are likely to benefit from treatment interventions; namely those with moderate or severe OSAS irrespective of the presence of morbidity, children with mild OSAS with associated morbidity or predictors of SDB persistence such as obesity, and children with complex conditions accompanied by upper airway obstruction like craniosynostosis and Prader-Willi syndrome. The co-existing conditions which may improve when treatment for obstructive SDB is offered are reviewed, while the clinical parameters associated with spontaneous improvement or resolution of obstructive SDB are discussed. The intention being to enable clinicians to make informed decisions on who should be treated, when and why. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:399-412. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Treatment outcomes of supraglottoplasty for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively review changes in sleep parameters and the success rate of supraglottoplasty for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. In particular, to elucidate treatment modalities and factors affecting treatment outcomes in children with both laryngomalacia and OSA.

METHODS

The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42015027053). Two authors independently searched databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Review database. The keywords were "supraglottoplasty," "laryngomalacia," "OSA," "polysomnography," "child," and "humans." Supraglottoplasty served as the primary treatment for OSA or secondary treatment for persistent disease after previous surgeries. Subgroup analyses were conducted for children receiving supraglottoplasty as the primary or secondary treatment for OSA, and for children with and without comorbidities.

RESULTS

Eleven studies with 121 patients were analyzed (mean age: 3.7 years; 64% boys; mean sample size: 11 patients). After surgery, the mean differences between the pre- and postoperative measurements were a significant reduction of 8.9 events/h in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and an increase of 3.7% in minimum oxygen saturation (MinSaO2; P < 0.05). The overall success rate was 28% according to a postoperative AHI <1 and 72% according to an AHI <5. Children receiving supraglottoplasty as the primary treatment had significantly younger ages (0.6 vs 6.4 years P < 0.001) than those receiving supraglottoplasty as the secondary treatment, but the outcomes were similar (33% vs 19% for a postoperative AHI < 1, P = 0.27; 77% vs 61% for a postoperative AHI < 5, P = 0.233). Moreover, children with comorbidities, compared with those without, had a similar success rate according to a postoperative AHI <1 (25% vs 21%, P = 0.805) and postoperative AHI <5 (62% vs 84%, P = 0.166).

CONCLUSIONS

Supraglottoplasty is an effective surgery for AHI reduction and MinSaO2 increase in children with OSA and laryngomalacia. However, complete resolution of OSA is not achieved in most cases, and factors affecting treatment outcomes in these children require future studies.

Randomized controlled study of a mandibular advancement appliance for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

The current limited evidence may be suggestive that mandibular advancement appliance (MAAs) result in improvements in AHI scores, but it is not possible to conclude that MAAs are effective to treat paediatric OSA.There are significant weaknesses in the existing evidence due primarily to absence of control groups, small sample sizes, lack of randomization and short-term results.

AIM

the objective of the present study was to evaluate MAAs in children with OSA.

METHODS

Children presenting an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to one event per hour were considered to be apneic. This group of children with AHI greater than or equal to one was randomly divided through a draw into two subgroups: half of them in an experimental subgroup and half of them in a control subgroup. In the experimental subgroup, molds of each of these children's maxillary and mandibular arches were taken using standard molds and molding material. The control group did not use any intraoral device and did not undergo any type of treatment for OSAS. The MAAs used in this study had the aim of achieving mandibular advancement, thereby correcting the mandibular position and dental occlusion, and perhaps increasing the airway and treating OSAS. After 12 consecutive months of use of the mandibular advancement devices, polysomnography examinations using the same parameters as in the initial examinations were requested for both the experimental and the control subgroup.

RESULTS

There was a decrease in AHI in the experimental group and an increase in the control group, with statistical significance. These data were used to calculate the sample size, which was 28 children in total in the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a decrease in AHI one year after implementing use of mandibular advancement devices, in comparison with the group that did not use these devices.

Obstructive sleep apnea in children: update on the recognition, treatment and management of persistent disease

Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the recommended first-line treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. It is now clearly established that AT results in improvement in the severity of OSA in most children. However, a significant number of OSA children undergoing AT exhibit residual persistent OSA post-surgery. Patients at increased risk of persistent OSA include those with severe disease at initial review, older or obese patients, children with underlying asthma or allergic rhinitis, and those who have concurrent underlying medical conditions, such as Trisomy 21, craniofacial syndromes or cerebral palsy. Here, we aim to highlight recent research findings into those who have persistent OSA disease, and suggest a practical approach to the management of these children.