Polysomnography in children scheduled for adenotonsillectomy

Obstructive sleep related breathing disorders and cardiometabolic risk factors - A Portuguese birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Pediatric obstructive sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) are an important under-diagnosed health problem with associated cardiometabolic comorbidities, demonstrated with polysomnographic studies in selected samples. Our main goal was to assess the prevalence of SRBD in a population-based cohort and to analyze its association with cardiometabolic risk factors, in general and by sex.

METHODS

Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was applied to parents of 7-years-old children evaluated in the birth cohort, Generation XXI. Sex, anthropometrics, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were compared among children with/without SRBD, using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 1931 children (51.2 % boys) were included; 17.5 % were overweight and 15.7 % obese. The prevalence of SRBD was 13.4 %, more frequent among boys (15.7 % vs.10.9 %, p = 0.002) and in overweight/obese children (22.0 % vs.13.6 % vs.11.3 % in obese, overweight and normal weight group, respectively, p < 0.001). Children with SRBD had higher systolic BP (107 ± 8 vs.105±9 mmHg; p = 0.001) and lower HDL-cholesterol levels (54 ± 11 vs.56 ± 11 mg/dL; p = 0.04) than children without SRBD. After adjustment for sex, age, birthweight-for-gestational age and maternal age, children with SRBD had higher BMI-z-score, systolic BP, insulin and HOMA-IR levels, and lower HDL-cholesterol, when compared to those without SRBD, but these associations were lost when adjusting to BMI z-score. Analyzing obese children with the same regression model, those with SRBD presented lower HDL-cholesterol than those without SRBD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identified a male predominance of SRBD in pre-pubertal children and highlighted the potential contribution of SRBD to cardiovascular risk in obese children.

Post Surgical Outcomes in Paediatric Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Subjective and Objective Evaluation

The aim of the study was to determine the post surgical outcomes in pediatric adenotonsillar hypertrophy with OSA using portable polysomnography (PSG), OSA 18 Questionnaire and Quality of life (QoL) scores. Secondly to correlate the subjective outcomes with objective scores of polysomonography. A prospective, single-arm, nonrandomized, single center study was performed at a tertiary care centre on children aged 3-12 years (n = 30) with adenoid hypertrophy/ tonsillar hypertrophy/adenotonsillar hypertrophy and symptoms suggestive of OSA. All subjects underwent appropriate surgical intervention. A portable PSG and OSA 18 questionnaire evaluation was performed pre surgery and 06 weeks post surgery to assess objective and clinical assessment for OSA. The mean age of children enrolled in the study was 8.68 ± 3 years. The mean pre treatment AHI was 12.56 ± 13.16 which improved to 1.72 ± 1.53 post surgery and was statistically significant (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). There was a statistically significant improvement in other PSG indices such as RDI and ODI post surgery also. The mean total symptom score (TSS) and QoL score also showed a statistically significant improvement post treatment (p < 0.05). However there was no correlation between the PSG and OSA 18 questionnaire scores pre and post surgery. Children with OSA like symptoms can undergo a portable polysomnography pre and post surgery to demonstrate severity of OSA and objectively monitor improvement in OSA post treatment. In the absence of availability of PSG, OSA 18 questionnaire is a suitable alternative to monitor disease severity and outcomes. Further studies may plan to include impact of paediatric OSA on other function such as the cardiac, dentition & malocclusion and neurocognitive function.

Expert Consensus Statement: Pediatric Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy

OBJECTIVE

To develop an expert consensus statement on pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) that clarifies controversies and offers opportunities for quality improvement. Pediatric DISE was defined as flexible endoscopy to examine the upper airway of a child with obstructive sleep apnea who is sedated and asleep.

METHODS

Development group members with expertise in pediatric DISE followed established guidelines for developing consensus statements. A search strategist systematically reviewed the literature, and the best available evidence was used to compose consensus statements regarding DISE in children 0 to 18 years old. Topics with significant practice variation and those that would improve the quality of patient care were prioritized.

RESULTS

The development group identified 59 candidate consensus statements, based on 50 initial proposed topics, that focused on addressing the following high-yield topics: (1) indications and utility, (2) protocol, (3) optimal sedation, (4) grading and interpretation, (5) complications and safety, and (6) outcomes for DISE-directed surgery. After 2 iterations of the Delphi survey and removal of duplicative statements, 26 statements met the criteria for consensus; 11 statements were designated as no consensus. Several areas, such as the role of DISE at the time of adenotonsillectomy, were identified as needing further research.

CONCLUSION

Expert consensus was achieved for 26 statements pertaining to indications, protocol, and outcomes for pediatric DISE. Clinicians can use these statements to improve quality of care, inform policy and protocols, and identify areas of uncertainty. Future research, ideally randomized controlled trials, is warranted to address additional controversies related to pediatric DISE.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Tonsillectomy in Children (Update)

OBJECTIVE

This update of a 2011 guideline developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation provides evidence-based recommendations on the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care and management of children 1 to 18 years of age under consideration for tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is defined as a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil, including its capsule, by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular wall. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States, with 289,000 ambulatory procedures performed annually in children <15 years of age based on the most recent published data. This guideline is intended for all clinicians in any setting who interact with children who may be candidates for tonsillectomy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this multidisciplinary guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities in managing children under consideration for tonsillectomy and to create explicit and actionable recommendations to implement these opportunities in clinical practice. Specifically, the goals are to educate clinicians, patients, and/or caregivers regarding the indications for tonsillectomy and the natural history of recurrent throat infections. Additional goals include the following: optimizing the perioperative management of children undergoing tonsillectomy, emphasizing the need for evaluation and intervention in special populations, improving the counseling and education of families who are considering tonsillectomy for their children, highlighting the management options for patients with modifying factors, and reducing inappropriate or unnecessary variations in care. Children aged 1 to 18 years under consideration for tonsillectomy are the target patient for the guideline. For this guideline update, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation selected a panel representing the fields of nursing, anesthesiology, consumers, family medicine, infectious disease, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, pediatrics, and sleep medicine.

KEY ACTION STATEMENTS

The guideline update group made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (1) Clinicians should recommend watchful waiting for recurrent throat infection if there have been <7 episodes in the past year, <5 episodes per year in the past 2 years, or <3 episodes per year in the past 3 years. (2) Clinicians should administer a single intraoperative dose of intravenous dexamethasone to children undergoing tonsillectomy. (3) Clinicians should recommend ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or both for pain control after tonsillectomy. The guideline update group made recommendations for the following KASs: (1) Clinicians should assess the child with recurrent throat infection who does not meet criteria in KAS 2 for modifying factors that may nonetheless favor tonsillectomy, which may include but are not limited to multiple antibiotic allergies/intolerance, PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis), or history of >1 peritonsillar abscess. (2) Clinicians should ask caregivers of children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing and tonsillar hypertrophy about comorbid conditions that may improve after tonsillectomy, including growth retardation, poor school performance, enuresis, asthma, and behavioral problems. (3) Before performing tonsillectomy, the clinician should refer children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing for polysomnography if they are <2 years of age or if they exhibit any of the following: obesity, Down syndrome, craniofacial abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, sickle cell disease, or mucopolysaccharidoses. (4) The clinician should advocate for polysomnography prior to tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing in children without any of the comorbidities listed in KAS 5 for whom the need for tonsillectomy is uncertain or when there is discordance between the physical examination and the reported severity of oSDB. (5) Clinicians should recommend tonsillectomy for children with obstructive sleep apnea documented by overnight polysomnography. (6) Clinicians should counsel patients and caregivers and explain that obstructive sleep-disordered breathing may persist or recur after tonsillectomy and may require further management. (7) The clinician should counsel patients and caregivers regarding the importance of managing posttonsillectomy pain as part of the perioperative education process and should reinforce this counseling at the time of surgery with reminders about the need to anticipate, reassess, and adequately treat pain after surgery. (8) Clinicians should arrange for overnight, inpatient monitoring of children after tonsillectomy if they are <3 years old or have severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥10 obstructive events/hour, oxygen saturation nadir <80%, or both). (9) Clinicians should follow up with patients and/or caregivers after tonsillectomy and document in the medical record the presence or absence of bleeding within 24 hours of surgery (primary bleeding) and bleeding occurring later than 24 hours after surgery (secondary bleeding). (10) Clinicians should determine their rate of primary and secondary posttonsillectomy bleeding at least annually. The guideline update group made a strong recommendation against 2 actions: (1) Clinicians should not administer or prescribe perioperative antibiotics to children undergoing tonsillectomy. (2) Clinicians must not administer or prescribe codeine, or any medication containing codeine, after tonsillectomy in children younger than 12 years. The policy level for the recommendation about documenting recurrent throat infection was an option: (1) Clinicians may recommend tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection with a frequency of at least 7 episodes in the past year, at least 5 episodes per year for 2 years, or at least 3 episodes per year for 3 years with documentation in the medical record for each episode of sore throat and ≥1 of the following: temperature >38.3°C (101°F), cervical adenopathy, tonsillar exudate, or positive test for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

DIFFERENCES FROM PRIOR GUIDELINE

(1) Incorporating new evidence profiles to include the role of patient preferences, confidence in the evidence, differences of opinion, quality improvement opportunities, and any exclusion to which the action statement does not apply. (2) There were 1 new clinical practice guideline, 26 new systematic reviews, and 13 new randomized controlled trials included in the current guideline update. (3) Inclusion of 2 consumer advocates on the guideline update group. (4) Changes to 5 KASs from the original guideline: KAS 1 (Watchful waiting for recurrent throat infection), KAS 3 (Tonsillectomy for recurrent infection with modifying factors), KAS 4 (Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing), KAS 9 (Perioperative pain counseling), and KAS 10 (Perioperative antibiotics). (5) Seven new KASs: KAS 5 (Indications for polysomnography), KAS 6 (Additional recommendations for polysomnography), KAS 7 (Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea), KAS 12 (Inpatient monitoring for children after tonsillectomy), KAS 13 (Postoperative ibuprofen and acetaminophen), KAS 14 (Postoperative codeine), and KAS 15a (Outcome assessment for bleeding). (6) Addition of an algorithm outlining KASs. (7) Enhanced emphasis on patient and/or caregiver education and shared decision making.

The STBUR questionnaire for predicting perioperative respiratory adverse events in children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing

BACKGROUND

In the absence of formal polysomnography (PSG), many children with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) go unrecognized and thus may be at risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAE).

OBJECTIVES

To develop a simple practical tool to identify children with symptoms consistent with SDB who may be at risk for PRAE.

METHODS

Three-hundred and thirty-seven parents of children scheduled for surgery completed the Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (SRBD) questionnaire. Data regarding the incidence and severity of PRAE including airway obstruction and laryngospasm, were collected prospectively.

RESULTS

Thirty-two (9.5%) children had a confirmed diagnosis of SDB by PSG and 90 (26.7%) had symptoms consistent with SDB based on the SRBD questionnaire. Principal component analysis identified five symptoms from the SRBD questionnaire that were strongly predictive of PRAE and which were incorporated into the STBUR tool (Snoring, Trouble Breathing, Un-Refreshed). The likelihood of PRAE was increased by threefold (positive likelihood ratio 3.06 [1.64-5.96] in the presence of any 3 STBUR symptoms and by tenfold when all five symptoms were present (9.74 [1.35-201.8]). In comparison, the likelihood of PRAE based on a PSG-confirmed diagnosis of SDB was 2.63 (1.17-6.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Children presenting for surgery with symptoms consistent with SDB may be at risk for PRAE. It is important therefore that anesthesia providers identify these individuals prior to surgery to avoid potential complications. The STBUR questionnaire appears promising as a simple, clinically useful tool for identifying children at risk for PRAE. Further studies to validate the STBUR questionnaire as a diagnostic tool may be warranted.

Clinical and polysomnographic correlation in sleep-related breathing disorders in children

INTRODUCTION

Although polysomnography is the gold standard test for sleep-disordered breathing in children, there is controversy about its indication in all cases. Among the arguments both for and against is the lack of correlation between objective values and the symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correlation between clinical data and apnea-hypopnoea index (AHI) in our work environment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We compared the preoperative clinical symptoms and AHI statistically in 170 children with sleep-disordered breathing who underwent polysomnography. We also analysed the correlation to postoperative level, with a subgroup of 80 children who underwent adenotonsillectomy with 1 year of polysomnography follow-up.

RESULTS

Before surgery, only the degree of tonsillar hypertrophy was statistically significant correlated with AHI. At post-operative follow-up, evidence of correlation between AHI and apnoea was observed: 38.1% of children improved in the group with persistence and 66.7% in the disease resolution group (P=.023). In addition, the correlations showed the level of improvement of snoring, as assessed by visual analogue scale. The mean was 5 points lower in the persistent group and 6.1 lower in the disease resolution group (P=.047).

CONCLUSION

Despite the limitations in the correlation between clinical data and polysomnography, especially in preoperative results, polysomnography remains the gold standard diagnostic tool. Efforts should be made to obtain objective parameters that provide higher levels of correlation.

Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE

This technical report describes the procedures involved in developing recommendations on the management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

The literature from 1999 through 2011 was evaluated.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

A total of 3166 titles were reviewed, of which 350 provided relevant data. Most articles were level II through IV. The prevalence of OSAS ranged from 0% to 5.7%, with obesity being an independent risk factor. OSAS was associated with cardiovascular, growth, and neurobehavioral abnormalities and possibly inflammation. Most diagnostic screening tests had low sensitivity and specificity. Treatment of OSAS resulted in improvements in behavior and attention and likely improvement in cognitive abilities. Primary treatment is adenotonsillectomy (AT). Data were insufficient to recommend specific surgical techniques; however, children undergoing partial tonsillectomy should be monitored for possible recurrence of OSAS. Although OSAS improved postoperatively, the proportion of patients who had residual OSAS ranged from 13% to 29% in low-risk populations to 73% when obese children were included and stricter polysomnographic criteria were used. Nevertheless, OSAS may improve after AT even in obese children, thus supporting surgery as a reasonable initial treatment. A significant number of obese patients required intubation or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) postoperatively, which reinforces the need for inpatient observation. CPAP was effective in the treatment of OSAS, but adherence is a major barrier. For this reason, CPAP is not recommended as first-line therapy for OSAS when AT is an option. Intranasal steroids may ameliorate mild OSAS, but follow-up is needed. Data were insufficient to recommend rapid maxillary expansion.

The specific characteristics in children with obstructive sleep apnea and cor pulmonale

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the pediatric population is currently estimated at 1-2% of all children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and hemodynamic characteristics in pediatric patients with cor pulmonale and OSA.

METHODS

Thirty children with the diagnosis of OSA were included. These patients consisted of 26 male and 4 female children with a mean age of 7 ± 4 years old. Five of those children were found to be associated with cor pulmonale, and 25 had OSA but without cor pulmonale.

RESULTS

The arousal index was much higher in children with OSA and cor pulmonale. The children with OSA and cor pulmonale had much lower mean and minimal oxygen saturation and a higher incidence of bradycardia events. All 5 patients with OSA and cor pulmonale underwent an adenotonsillectomy, and the pulmonary arterial pressure dropped significantly after the surgery.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the OSA pediatric patients with cor pulmonale had the different clinical manifestations and hemodynamic characteristics from those without cor pulmonale. The adenotonsillectomy had excellent results in both the OSA pediatric patients with and without cor pulmonale.

Craniofacial morphology and sleep apnea in children with obstructed upper airways: differences between genders

OBJECTIVES

To correlate sleep apnea with craniofacial characteristics and facial patterns according to gender.

METHODS

In this prospective survey we studied 77 male and female children (3-12 years old) with an upper airway obstruction due to tonsil and adenoid enlargement. Children with lung problems, neurological disorders and syndromes, obstructive septal deviation, previous orthodontic treatment, orthodontic surgeries or oral surgeries, or obesity were excluded. Patients were subjected to physical examinations, nasal fiberoptic endoscopy, teleradiography for cephalometric analysis, and polysomnography. Cephalometric analysis included the following skeletal craniofacial measurements: facial axis (FA), facial depth (FD), mandibular plane angle (MP), lower facial height (LFH), mandibular arch (MA), and vertical growth coefficient (VERT) index.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sleep apnea was 46.75% with no statistical difference between genders. Among children with obstructive sleep apnea (Apneia Hypopnea Index - AHI ≥ 1) boys had higher AHI values than girls. A predominance of the dolichofacial pattern (81.9%) was observed. The following skeletal craniofacial measurements correlated with AHI in boys: FD (r(s)=-0.336/p=0.020), MP (r(s)=0.486/p=0.00), and VERT index (r(s)=-0.337/p=0.019). No correlations between craniofacial measurements and AHI were identified in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Craniofacial morphology may influence the severity of sleep apnea in boys but not in girls.

The role of polysomnography in diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea in pediatric patients

Obstructive sleep apnea in children is associated with serious neurocognitive and cardiovascular morbidity, systemic inflammation, and increased health care use, yet remains underdiagnosed. Although the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea is 1-3% in the pediatric population, the prevalence of primary snoring (PS) is estimated to be 3-12%. The challenge for pediatricians is to differentiate PS from obstructive sleep apnea in a cost-effective, reliable, and accurate manner before recommending invasive or intrusive therapies, such as surgery or continuous positive airway pressure. The validity of polysomnography as the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea has been challenged, primarily related to concerns that abnormalities on polysomnography do not correlate well with adverse outcomes, that those abnormalities have statistical more than clinical significance, and that performing polysomnograms on all children who snore is a practical impossibility. The aim of this article is to review the clinical utility of diagnostic tests other than polysomnography to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, to highlight the limitations and strengths of polysomnography, to underscore the threshold levels of abnormalities detected on polysomnography that correlate with morbidity, and to discuss what the practical implications are for treatment.

Prevalence and persistence of sleep disordered breathing symptoms in young children: a 6-year population-based cohort study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence, persistence, and characteristics associated with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms in a population-based cohort followed from 6 months to 6.75 years.

DESIGN

Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

SETTING

England, 1991-1999.

PARTICIPANTS

12,447 children in ALSPAC with parental report of apnea, snoring, or mouth-breathing frequency on any one of 7 questionnaires.

MEASUREMENTS

Symptom prevalence rates-assessed as "Always" and "Habitually"-are reported at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.75, 5.75, and 6.75 years of age. The proportion of children in whom symptoms develop, persist or abate between observation points is reported. Exploratory multivariate analyses identified SDB risk factors at 1.5, 4.75, and 6.75 years.

RESULTS

The prevalence of apnea ("Always") is 1%-2% at all ages assessed. In contrast, snoring "Always" ranges from 3.6% to 7.7%, and snoring "Habitually" ranges from 9.6% to 21.2%, with a notable increase from 1.5- 2.5 years. At 6 years old, 25% are habitual mouth-breathers. The "Always" and "Habitual" incidence of each symptom between time points is 1%-5% and 5%-10%, respectively. In multivariate analyses of combined symptoms, socioeconomic factors have stronger, more persistent effects upon increased SDB risk than gestational age, gender, or race (aside from 1.5 years); adenoidectomy decreases risk by 40%-50%.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first natural history study of the primary symptoms of SDB across a key 6-year period in the development of SDB symptoms. Snoring rates are higher and spike earlier than previously reported. Symptoms are dynamic, suggesting the need for early and continued vigilance in early childhood.

Update on pediatric sleep-disordered breathing

Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) includes an increasingly recognized, highly prevalent, yet still underdiagnosed spectrum of respiratory disorders, the most common and clinically significant of which is obstructive sleep apnea. SDB is linked with significant end-organ dysfunction across various systems, particularly with cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and metabolic consequences. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding of pediatric SDB and discusses the challenges inherent in diagnosing and treating children with SDB.

Executive summary of respiratory indications for polysomnography in children: an evidence-based review

OBJECTIVE

This comprehensive, evidence-based review provides a systematic analysis of the literature regarding the validity, reliability, and clinical utility of polysomnography for characterizing breathing during sleep in children. Findings serve as the foundation of practice parameters regarding respiratory indications for polysomnography in children.

METHODS

A task force of content experts performed a systematic review of the relevant literature and graded the evidence using a standardized grading system. Two hundred forty-three evidentiary papers were reviewed, summarized, and graded. The analysis addressed the operating characteristics of polysomnography as a diagnostic procedure in children and identified strengths and limitations of polysomnography for evaluation of respiratory function during sleep.

RESULTS

The analysis documents strong face validity and content validity, moderately strong convergent validity when comparing respiratory findings with a variety of relevant independent measures, moderate-to-strong test-retest validity, and limited data supporting discriminant validity for characterizing breathing during sleep in children. The analysis documents moderate-to-strong test-retest reliability and interscorer reliability based on limited data. The data indicate particularly strong clinical utility in children with suspected sleep related breathing disorders and obesity, evolving metabolic syndrome, neurological, neurodevelopmental, or genetic disorders, and children with craniofacial syndromes. Specific consideration was given to clinical utility of polysomnography prior to adenotonsillectomy (AT) for confirmation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The most relevant findings include: (1) recognition that clinical history and examination are often poor predictors of respiratory polygraphic findings, (2) preoperative polysomnography is helpful in predicting risk for perioperative complications, and (3) preoperative polysomnography is often helpful in predicting persistence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients after AT. No prospective studies were identified that address whether clinical outcome following AT for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is improved in association with routine performance of polysomnography before surgery in otherwise healthy children. A small group of papers confirm the clinical utility of polysomnography for initiation and titration of positive airway pressure support.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric polysomnography shows validity, reliability, and clinical utility that is commensurate with most other routinely employed diagnostic clinical tools or procedures. Findings indicate that the "gold standard" for diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders in children is not polysomnography alone, but rather the skillful integration of clinical and polygraphic findings by a knowledgeable sleep specialist. Future developments will provide more sophisticated methods for data collection and analysis, but integration of polysomnographic findings with the clinical evaluation will represent the fundamental diagnostic challenge for the sleep specialist.

Practice parameters for the respiratory indications for polysomnography in children

BACKGROUND

There has been marked expansion in the literature and practice of pediatric sleep medicine; however, no recent evidence-based practice parameters have been reported. These practice parameters are the first of 2 papers that assess indications for polysomnography in children. This paper addresses indications for polysomnography in children with suspected sleep related breathing disorders. These recommendations were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed, and the American Academy of Neurology grading system was used to assess the quality of evidence. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PSG USE: 1. Polysomnography in children should be performed and interpreted in accordance with the recommendations of the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events. (Standard) 2. Polysomnography is indicated when the clinical assessment suggests the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children. (Standard) 3. Children with mild OSAS preoperatively should have clinical evaluation following adenotonsillectomy to assess for residual symptoms. If there are residual symptoms of OSAS, polysomnography should be performed. (Standard) 4. Polysomnography is indicated following adenotonsillectomy to assess for residual OSAS in children with preoperative evidence for moderate to severe OSAS, obesity, craniofacial anomalies that obstruct the upper airway, and neurologic disorders (e.g., Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and myelomeningocele). (Standard) 5. Polysomnography is indicated for positive airway pressure (PAP) titration in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. (Standard) 6. Polysomnography is indicated when the clinical assessment suggests the diagnosis of congenital central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome or sleep related hypoventilation due to neuromuscular disorders or chest wall deformities. It is indicated in selected cases of primary sleep apnea of infancy. (Guideline) 7. Polysomnography is indicated when there is clinical evidence of a sleep related breathing disorder in infants who have experienced an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). (Guideline) 8. Polysomnography is indicated in children being considered for adenotonsillectomy to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. (Guideline) 9. Follow-up PSG in children on chronic PAP support is indicated to determine whether pressure requirements have changed as a result of the child's growth and development, if symptoms recur while on PAP, or if additional or alternate treatment is instituted. (Guideline) 10. Polysomnography is indicated after treatment of children for OSAS with rapid maxillary expansion to assess for the level of residual disease and to determine whether additional treatment is necessary. (Option) 11. Children with OSAS treated with an oral appliance should have clinical follow-up and polysomnography to assess response to treatment. (Option) 12. Polysomnography is indicated for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) titration in children with other sleep related breathing disorders. (Option) 13. Children treated with mechanical ventilation may benefit from periodic evaluation with polysomnography to adjust ventilator settings. (Option) 14. Children treated with tracheostomy for sleep related breathing disorders benefit from polysomnography as part of the evaluation prior to decannulation. These children should be followed clinically after decannulation to assess for recurrence of symptoms of sleep related breathing disorders. (Option) 15. Polysomnography is indicated in the following respiratory disorders only if there is a clinical suspicion for an accompanying sleep related breathing disorder: chronic asthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or chest wall abnormality such as kyphoscoliosis. (Option) RECOMMENDATIONS AGAINST PSG USE: 16. Nap (abbreviated) polysomnography is not recommended for the evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children. (Option) 17. Children considered for treatment with supplemental oxygen do not routinely require polysomnography for management of oxygen therapy. (Option)

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence in the field of pediatric sleep medicine indicates that PSG has clinical utility in the diagnosis and management of sleep related breathing disorders. The accurate diagnosis of SRBD in the pediatric population is best accomplished by integration of polysomnographic findings with clinical evaluation.

Clinical estimation of mouth breathing

INTRODUCTION

Breathing mode was objectively determined by monitoring airflow through the mouth, measuring nasal resistance and lip-seal function, and collecting information via questionnaire on the patient's etiology and symptoms of mouth breathing.

METHODS

The expiratory airflow through the mouth was detected with a carbon dioxide sensor for 30 minutes at rest. Fifteen men and 19 women volunteers (mean age, 22.4 +/- 2.5 years) were classified as nasal breathers, complete mouth breathers, or partial mouth breathers based on the mean duration of mouth breathing. Nasal resistance, lip-sealing function, and the subjective symptoms of mouth breathing ascertained by questionnaire were statistically compared by using 1-way and 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test in the breathing groups.

RESULTS

Nasal resistance was significantly (P <0.05) greater for the mouth breathers than for the nasal breathers, and significantly (P <0.05) greater for the partial mouth breathers than for the complete mouth breathers. There were no significant differences in the subjective responses to questions about mouth breathing among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Detecting airflow by carbon dioxide sensor can discriminate breathing mode. Degree of nasal resistance and subjective symptoms of mouth breathing do not accurately predict breathing mode.

Sleep stage dynamics differ between children with and without obstructive sleep apnea

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Analysis of sleep dynamics--distributions of contiguous sleep and sleep stage durations--reveal exponential distributions and potential clinical utility in adults. We sought to examine these polysomnographic variables for the first time in children, and in the context of childhood sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Analysis of polysomnographic data available from the Washtenaw County Adenotonsillectomy Cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Selected subjects were 48 children aged 5-12 years with SDB (pediatric apnea/hypopnea index > or = 1.5) who were scheduled for adenotonsillectomy and 20 control subjects of similar ages without SDB. Subjects were studied at enrollment and again one year later in almost all cases.

RESULTS

Durations of sleep and specific sleep stage bouts generally followed exponential distributions. At baseline, the number of sleep stage changes, proportion of total sleep time occupied by stage 1 sleep, proportion stage 2 sleep, mean stage 2 duration, and mean stage REM duration each distinguished subjects with and without SDB (P < 0.05), but only mean stage 2 duration did so independently after accounting for the other variables (P = 0.03). At one-year follow-up, changes in total sleep time, mean stage 2 duration, and mean stage REM duration distinguished SDB from control subjects, but again only changes in mean stage 2 duration did so independently (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Durations of uninterrupted sleep and specific sleep stages appear to follow exponential distributions in children with or without SDB. Parameters that describe these distributions--particularly mean duration of stage 2 sleep periods--may provide useful additions to standard sleep stage analyses.

Changes in serum levels of IGF-1 and in growth following adenotonsillectomy in children

OBJECTIVE

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy can cause upper airway obstruction and may be associated with growth delay in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy on height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).

METHODS

Fifty-two children (mean age 6.2+/-2.3 years) clinically diagnosed with SDB were enrolled. Children were diagnosed and scheduled for adenotonsillectomy (T&A) based on their responses to the validated, 22-item Sleep Related Breathing Disorder (SRDB) scale and a physical examination that showed adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Weight, height, and BMI were evaluated before and 5 years after T&A. Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured before and 1 month after T&A.

RESULTS

Serum levels of IGF-1 were significantly higher at 1 month after T&A compared to before T&A (p<0.001). Thirty children (58%) returned for follow-up testing 5 years later. Their Z scores (standard deviation scores) for weight, height, and BMI of 30 children were significantly higher 5 years after T&A compared to before T&A (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Children with SDB who undergo adenotonsillectomy show significant, long-term increases in weight, height and BMI, as well as a significant increase in serum levels of IGF-1.

Neuropsychological and behavioral functioning in children with and without obstructive sleep apnea referred for tonsillectomy

Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is among the most common pediatric surgical procedures and is performed as often for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as for recurrent tonsillitis. This study compared behavioral, cognitive, and sleep measures in 27 healthy control children recruited from a university hospital-based pediatric general surgery clinic with 40 children who had OSA (AT/OSA+) and 27 children who did not have OSA (AT/OSA-) scheduled for AT. Parental ratings of behavior, sleep problems, and snoring, along with specific cognitive measures (i.e., short-term attention, visuospatial problem solving, memory, arithmetic) reflected greater difficulties for AT children compared with controls. Differences between the AT/OSA- and control groups were larger and more consistent across test measures than were those between the AT/OSA+ and control groups. The fact that worse outcomes were not clearly demonstrated for the AT/OSA+ group compared with the other groups was not expected based on existing literature. This counterintuitive finding may reflect a combination of factors, including age, daytime sleepiness, features of sleep-disordered breathing too subtle to show on standard polysomnography, and academic or environmental factors not collected in this study. These results underscore the importance of applying more sophisticated methodologies to better understand the salient pathophysiology of childhood sleep-disordered breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing, behavior, and cognition in children before and after adenotonsillectomy

OBJECTIVES

Most children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) have mild-to-moderate forms, for which neurobehavioral complications are believed to be the most important adverse outcomes. To improve understanding of this morbidity, its long-term response to adenotonsillectomy, and its relationship to polysomnographic measures, we studied a series of children before and after clinically indicated adenotonsillectomy or unrelated surgical care.

METHODS

We recorded sleep and assessed behavioral, cognitive, and psychiatric morbidity in 105 children 5.0 to 12.9 years old: 78 were scheduled for clinically indicated adenotonsillectomy, usually for suspected SDB, and 27 for unrelated surgical care. One year later, we repeated all assessments in 100 of these children.

RESULTS

Subjects who had an adenotonsillectomy, in comparison to controls, were more hyperactive on well-validated parent rating scales, inattentive on cognitive testing, sleepy on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, and likely to have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) as judged by a child psychiatrist. In contrast, 1 year later, the 2 groups showed no significant differences in the same measures. Subjects who had an adenotonsillectomy had improved substantially in all measures, and control subjects improved in none. However, polysomnographic assessment of baseline SDB and its subsequent amelioration did not clearly predict either baseline neurobehavioral morbidity or improvement in any area other than sleepiness.

CONCLUSIONS

Children scheduled for adenotonsillectomy often have mild-to-moderate SDB and significant neurobehavioral morbidity, including hyperactivity, inattention, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and excessive daytime sleepiness, all of which tend to improve by 1 year after surgery. However, the lack of better correspondence between SDB measures and neurobehavioral outcomes suggests the need for better measures or improved understanding of underlying causal mechanisms.

[Snoring in children]

Only snoring loud enough to be heard behind a closed door have to be investigated and treated. Snoring is severe when associated with sleep apneas. The 3 most frequent causes of snoring in children are enlarged adenoids, enlarged tonsils and blocked nose due to allergic rhinitis.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: the year in review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In recent years several daytime symptoms resulting from pediatric obstructive sleep apnea have been recognized that affect neurobehavioral and cognitive functioning. It is important to identify patients who will benefit from treatment. Up until now the systematic analysis of obstructive sleep apnea in children has been hindered by both variable diagnostic criteria and patient care protocols. This review examines the effects of obstructive sleep apnea in children as well as treatment outcomes. Recent data suggest that some diagnostic modalities may underestimate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

A review of the data from the past year shows a significant correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and daytime symptoms. It also shows mitigation of these symptoms with appropriate treatment. The directed history and physical examination continue to be the most effective means of diagnosis in most affected children. The polysomnogram is considered the gold standard for diagnosis but may underestimate the presence of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Some children with the diagnosis of primary snoring will benefit from treatment.

SUMMARY

In view of the profound effects of obstructive sleep apnea in children, it is vital to develop an accurate and universal system for diagnosing and treating these patients. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the major cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. A directed history and physical examination followed by tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are effective in improving the physical sequelae and quality of life of affected children.