When Should Pediatric Septoplasty Be Performed for Nasal Airway Obstruction?

Surgical Management of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Beyond Adenotonsillectomy: The Nose, Nasopharynx, and Palate

While adenotonsillectomy is the primary treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), persistent OSA after surgery is common and may be due to residual obstruction at the nose, nasopharynx, and/or palate. Comprehensive evaluation for persistent pediatric OSA ideally includes clinical examination (with or without awake nasal endosocpy) as well as drug-induced sleep endoscopy in order to accurately identify sources of residual obstruction. Depending on the site of obstruction, some of the surgical management options include submucous inferior turbinate resection, septoplasty, adenoidectomy, and expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty.

Reducing Surgical Risks for Septal and Turbinate Surgery

Septoplasty is one of the most frequently performed procedures in otolaryngology. The procedure is also performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons as well as plastic surgeons. Septal deviation is one of the most common findings on physical examination in the otolaryngologist's office. Nasal obstruction when caused by septal deviation may be addressed with septoplasty. Turbinate surgery may be performed in conjunction to further improve the airway.

OUTCOMES OF SEPTOPLASTY IN CHILDREN

OBJECTIVE

Aim: The aim of the study was to present the experience of a local hospital surgical department where septoplasty is performed on children suffering from its degeneration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study with 100 patients aged between 3 and 18 years were taken. Both males and females out of 100 patients were followed up for 7 years. The patients were treated with using septoplasty as well as the related clinical procedures such as cauterization of the inferior turbinate. We performed clinical evaluation and nasal endoscopy of the cases in the postoperative period. The longest observation period was 7 years.

RESULTS

Results: The male and female child enrolled in the study were 60 (60%) and 40 (40%), respectively. Out of this number of patients, 92 (92%) had inferior turbinate cauterization. In all the 100 cases, we did not notice any intraoperative complication. Also, all the cases were evaluated in 15th, 30th, and 60th days of observation.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: When performed correctly, septoplasty in children is a good clinical intervention as it allows the right growth and development of the crani-ofacial region and prevents abnormalities in psychic and somatic components in young patients. Moreover, this study confirms the previous studies that have demystified the point of view, that the setoplasty should only be recommended when the patients reach the ages of 17 and 18.

Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Septoplasty

OBJECTIVE

Identify risk factors and perioperative morbidity for pediatric patients undergoing septoplasty.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database was retrospectively queried to identify patients who underwent septoplasty (CPT 30520) for a diagnosis of deviated nasal septum (ICD J34.2) from 2018 to 2019. Outcomes analyzed include patient demographics, medical comorbidities, surgical setting, operative characteristics, length of stay, and postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 729 children were identified. Median age at time of surgery was 15.8 years, with most patients (82.8%) >12 years of age; no significant association was identified between age at time of surgery and adverse surgical outcomes. Overall, postoperative complications were uncommon (0.6%), including readmission (0.4%), septic shock (0.1%), and surgical site infection (0.1%). A history of asthma was found to be a significant risk factor for postoperative complications (P = .035) as well as BMI (P = .028).

CONCLUSION

The 30-day postoperative complications following pediatric septoplasty in children reported in the NSQIP-P database are infrequent. Special considerations regarding young age, complex sinonasal anatomy, and surgical technique remain important features in considering corrective surgery for the pediatric nose and certainly warrant further investigation in subsequent studies.

Validation of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) is a disease specific quality of life instrument developed and validated in adults. The objective of this study is to evaluate the validity of the NOSE scale for pediatric nasal obstruction. We also examined the effect of septoplasty with bilateral inferior turbinate reduction in this population.

STUDY DESIGN

A validation study at a tertiary care children's hospital.

METHODS

Thirty-eight pediatric patients who underwent septoplasty and bilateral inferior turbinate reduction between 2014 and 2018 were included. Patients were administered the NOSE instrument on the day of their clinic evaluation, the day of surgery, and at their 6 to 8-week post-operative appointment. A sample of 40 pediatric patients with non-rhinologic complaints was also included. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the factorial validity of the NOSE instrument.

RESULTS

Of the 78 patients included, the mean age was 15.4 years (SD 3.4). In the confirmatory factor analysis, factor loadings were all significant and ranged from 0.95 to 0.99. Internal consistency reliability using Omega and maximal reliability H indices were well above recommended standards (Omega = 0.983 and maximal H = 0.988). Test-retest reliability was also adequate. Mean NOSE scores significantly improved following surgery (from 96.7 [SD 6.2] to 8.8 [SD 7.8]; mean difference = -87.9; 95% CI: -84.5, -91.3; P < .001). Similar improvements were observed across age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The NOSE scale is a valid and reliable quality of life instrument for pediatric patients with nasal obstruction. Nasal septoplasty with bilateral turbinate reduction substantially improved symptoms of nasal obstruction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2594-E2598, 2021.