Obstructive sleep apnea in children: an update

Does distraction osteogenesis improve the airway volume and quality of life of obstructive sleep apnoea patients secondary to temporomandibular joint ankylosis?

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis leads to mandibular micrognathia that severely collapses the upper airway causing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), resulting in deterioration and compromise in the quality of life (QoL) of patients. In this study, we aimed to calculate airway volume changes, apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), and improvement in quality of life before and after distraction osteogenesis (DO). Fourteen Patients with OSA secondary to TMJ ankylosis at a mean (SD) age of 17.5 (5.43) years were enrolled in this prospective study. Multivector mandibular distractors were used in all patients following the standard Ilizarov distraction protocol with a mean (SD) anteroposterior distraction of 16.21 (4.37) mm and a consolidation period of 116.92 (14.35) days. The patients were followed up for six months. A polysomnography test (PSG) was done to quantify AHI and a low-dose computed tomographic scan was done to calculate airway volume using Dolphin medical imaging software pre and post-DO. The QoL of the patients was calculated using the OSA-18 questionnaire. Results analysis depicted that the mean (SD) preoperative AHI was 51.44 (37.99)/h which was improved to 9.57 (9.74)/h (p = 0.001) after DO. Airway volume was calculated on Dolphin software before and after DO showed a significant improvement in airway volume by 121.12% (98.30)%. Similarly, the OSA-18 questionnaire showed significant improvement in QoL from severe to normal. This study suggested that DO increases the corpus length of the mandible, leading to an increment in airway volume, which improves the QoL.

Feasibility of Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy in Pediatric Patients with Tonsil Problem, Including Recurrent Tonsillitis: A Single Surgeon's Experience

INTRODUCTION

Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy (PIT) is a technique that protects the tonsillar capsule by using a microdebrider, resulting in faster wound-healing and reduced suffering. Many studies have found PIT to be effective, particularly in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, previous studies have not included patients with a history of recurrent tonsillitis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of PIT in pediatric patients even with a history of recurrent tonsillitis, and therefore, we want to expand the indication for PIT and reveal its safety.

METHODS

A total of 886 pediatric patients underwent PIT between February 2013 and March 2016. All patients rated their postoperative pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) and completed the Korean obstructive sleep apnea (KOSA)-18 questionnaire for assessment of their quality of life (QOL). There were 539 males and 347 females. Their mean age was 6.2 years (range 2-14 years). The majority (77.7%) underwent the operation for OSA, and the rest (22.3%) had a history of recurrent tonsillitis. To compare the efficacy of PIT with traditional tonsillectomy, we selected 191 patients who underwent extracapsular tonsillectomy (ECT), a conventional technique, during the same time period. The median follow-up period was 16.7 months. During the follow-up period, instances of delayed bleeding and recurrent pharyngitis were monitored.

RESULTS

In comparison to the patients who underwent ECT, the PIT group showed significantly fewer cases of postoperative bleeding (p = 0.027). Thirteen patients in the PIT group (1.5%) visited the hospital during the follow-up period for pharyngitis, while 8 in the ECT group (4.2%) visited for pharyngitis. The mean postoperative pain score, as assessed by a VAS, was 4.6 ± 3.2, and pain improved within an average of 2.9 days after surgery in the PIT group. The mean KOSA-18 score for the QOL of the patients was 65.9 preoperatively and 35.6 postoperatively in the PIT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric tonsillectomy using PIT is valid for reducing postoperative pain and improving the QOL of OSA patients. PIT is also effective and safe for patients with a history of recurrent tonsillitis.

Diagnosis and management of childhood sleep-disordered breathing. Clinical approach

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) includes disorders of breathing that affect airway patency, which impair children's sleep and lead to negative consequences. Obstructive sleep apnea, hypoventilation and upper airway resistance syndrome are common causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. These clinical practice guidelines, intended for use by pediatricians and primary care clinicians, provide a clear recommendation for the diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing, focusing on the most serious disorder, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). These clinical guidelines formulate clear recommendations to identify patients with suspected OSAS. Further, the manuscript will highlight the potential consequences of SBD in children, and how to overcome such difficulties, what could be the therapeutic options, a 12 recommendations and what are the future direction for pediatric sleep medicine.

Anti-inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. Approximately 1% to 4% of children are affected by OSA, with adenotonsillar hypertrophy being the most common underlying risk factor. Surgical removal of enlarged adenoids or tonsils is the currently recommended first-line treatment for OSA due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Given the perioperative risk and an estimated recurrence rate of up to 20% following surgery, there has recently been an increased interest in less invasive alternatives to adenotonsillectomy. As the enlarged adenoids and tonsils consist of hypertrophied lymphoid tissue, anti-inflammatory drugs have been proposed as a potential non-surgical treatment option in children with OSA.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of OSA in children.

SEARCH METHODS

We identified trials from searches of the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL and MEDLINE (1950 to 2019). For identification of ongoing clinical trials, we searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) trials portal.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing anti-inflammatory drugs against placebo in children between one and 16 years with objectively diagnosed OSA (apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥ 1 per hour).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently performed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. We separately pooled results for the comparisons 'intranasal steroids' and 'montelukast' against placebo using random-effects models. The primary outcomes for this review were AHI and serious adverse events. Secondary outcomes included the respiratory disturbance index, desaturation index, respiratory arousal index, nadir arterial oxygen saturation, mean arterial oxygen saturation, avoidance of surgical treatment for OSA, clinical symptom score, tonsillar size, and adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five trials with a total of 240 children aged one to 18 years with mild to moderate OSA (AHI 1 to 30 per hour). All trials were performed in specialised sleep medicine clinics at tertiary care centres. Follow-up time ranged from six weeks to four months. Three RCTs (n = 137) compared intranasal steroids against placebo; two RCTs compared oral montelukast against placebo (n = 103). We excluded one trial from the meta-analysis since the patients were not analysed as randomised. We also had concerns about selective reporting in another trial. We are uncertain about the difference in AHI (MD -3.18, 95% CI -8.70 to 2.35) between children receiving intranasal corticosteroids compared to placebo (2 studies, 75 participants; low-certainty evidence). In contrast, children receiving oral montelukast had a lower AHI (MD -3.41, 95% CI -5.36 to -1.45) compared to those in the placebo group (2 studies, 103 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether the secondary outcomes are different between children receiving intranasal corticosteroids compared to placebo: desaturation index (MD -2.12, 95% CI -4.27 to 0.04; 2 studies, 75 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), respiratory arousal index (MD -0.71, 95% CI -6.25 to 4.83; 2 studies, 75 participants; low-certainty evidence), and nadir oxygen saturation (MD 0.59%, 95% CI -1.09 to 2.27; 2 studies, 75 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Children receiving oral montelukast had a lower respiratory arousal index (MD -2.89, 95% CI -4.68 to -1.10; 2 studies, 103 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and nadir of oxygen saturation (MD 4.07, 95% CI 2.27 to 5.88; 2 studies, 103 participants; high-certainty evidence) compared to those in the placebo group. We are uncertain, however, about the difference in desaturation index (MD -2.50, 95% CI -5.53 to 0.54; 2 studies, 103 participants; low-certainty evidence) between the montelukast and placebo group. Adverse events were assessed and reported in all trials and were rare, of minor nature (e.g. nasal bleeding), and evenly distributed between study groups. No study examined the avoidance of surgical treatment for OSA as an outcome.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids for the treatment of OSA in children; they may have short-term beneficial effects on the desaturation index and oxygen saturation in children with mild to moderate OSA but the certainty of the benefit on the primary outcome AHI, as well as the respiratory arousal index, was low due to imprecision of the estimates and heterogeneity between studies. Montelukast has short-term beneficial treatment effects for OSA in otherwise healthy, non-obese, surgically untreated children (moderate certainty for primary outcome and moderate and high certainty, respectively, for two secondary outcomes) by significantly reducing the number of apnoeas, hypopnoeas, and respiratory arousals during sleep. In addition, montelukast was well tolerated in the children studied. The clinical relevance of the observed treatment effects remains unclear, however, because minimal clinically important differences are not yet established for polysomnography-based outcomes in children. Long-term efficacy and safety data on the use of anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of OSA in childhood are still not available. In addition, patient-centred outcomes like concentration ability, vigilance, or school performance have not been investigated yet. There are currently no RCTs on the use of other kinds of anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of OSA in children. Future RCTs should investigate sustainability of treatment effects, avoidance of surgical treatment for OSA, and long-term safety of anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of OSA in children and include patient-centred outcomes.

Is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children season dependent?

INTRODUCTION

The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is an enlargement of tonsils and/or adenoids. Previous studies have shown that the size of adenoids and tonsils is influenced by upper respiratory tract infections and exposure to allergens. The rate of exposure to bacteria, viruses, and allergens fluctuates from season to season. Therefore, we hypothesized that the rate of polysomnograms positive for OSA may vary according to season.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine whether the prevalence of OSA in children, as determined by polysomnography, is affected by the season during which the study was performed.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed polysomnography tests of 296 children, ages 0-12 years, referred for suspected OSA. We compared the Obstructive Apnea Hypopnea Index (OAHI) between the seasons and the rates of abnormal tests in each season according to the degree of severity.

RESULTS

The mean OAHI did not significantly differ among the seasons (winter, 3.0 ± 5.0; spring, 3.0 ± 4.9; summer, 4.0 ± 6.3; fall, 3.4 ± 5.7, p = 0.183). When dividing the OAHI by levels of severity, no seasonality was found in moderate (winter, 13.8 %; spring, 6.7 %; summer, 11.7 %; fall, 14.1 %, p = NS) and severe OSA (winter, 8.8 %; spring, 11.2 %; summer, 10 %; fall, 7.8 %, p = NS). There was a small increase in the frequency of mild OSA diagnoses in the summer compared to the other seasons.

CONCLUSION

In this study, season does not appear to affect the rate of diagnosis of significant OSA in children. Re-evaluation during a different season is unlikely to provide different results and may postpone surgery unnecessarily.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disorder of airway obstruction with multisystem implications and associated complications. OSAS affects children from infancy to adulthood and is responsible for behavioral, cognitive, and growth impairment as well as cardiovascular and perioperative respiratory morbidity and mortality. OSAS is associated commonly with comorbid conditions, including obesity and asthma. Adenotonsillectomy is the most commonly used treatment option for OSAS in childhood, but efforts are underway to identify medical treatment options.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common health problem diagnosed and managed by various medical specialists, including family practice physicians, pediatricians, pulmonologists, and general and pediatric otolaryngologists. If left untreated, the sequelae can be severe. Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in the evidence-based management of pediatric OSAS. This article focuses on the current understanding of this disease, its management, and related clinical practice guidelines.

Otolaryngologic manifestations of skeletal dysplasias in children

This article reviews some of the otolaryngologic manifestations of skeletal dysplasias. Achondroplasia is discussed most comprehensively. Skeletal dysplasias are bone and cartilage disorders that disrupt the development of the long bones, craniofacial skeleton, and vertebral column, with the most notable characteristic being short stature. Children with skeletal dysplasias have various medical problems. These children often develop head and neck manifestations of their disorders. Hearing loss, middle ear disease, and respiratory difficulties are seen in these children. Otolaryngologists must be knowledgeable about these disorders to diagnose, treat, and appropriately refer children with skeletal dysplasias.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children

The clinical syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) in children is a distinct, yet somewhat overlapping disorder with the condition that occurs in adults, such that the clinical manifestations, polysomnographic findings, diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches need to be considered in an age-specific manner. Childhood OSAS has now become widely recognized as a frequent disorder and as a major public health problem. Pediatric OSAS, particularly when obesity is concurrently present, is associated with substantial end-organ morbidities and increased healthcare utilization. Although adenotonsillectomy (T&A) remains the first line of treatment, evidence in recent years suggests that the outcomes of this surgical procedure may not be as favorable as expected, such that post-T&A polysomnographic evaluation may be needed, especially in high-risk patient groups. In addition, incorporation of nonsurgical approaches for milder forms of the disorder and for residual OSAS after T&A is now being investigated.

[Epidemiology. Risk factors and genetic influence]

Epidemiological studies of sleep-disordered breathing in broad population samples are scarce. Nevertheless, currently available data indicate that habitual snoring is present in 7.45 % (95 % CI: 5.75-9.61) of the child population. Approximately 10 % of habitual snorers develop sleep apnea. However, in children with associated comorbidity (obesity, asthma…) or clinical symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, the association between snoring and sleep apnea is significantly increased. The prevalence of sleep apnea according to parents' or guardians' observation of apnea episodes is 0.2-4 %. When the diagnosis is based on questionnaires administered directly to parents, the prevalence increases to 4-11 %. If diagnosis is made by objective means, the prevalence ranges from 1-4 %. Obesity is currently a major risk factor. In obese children, the prevalence of sleep apnea oscillates between 4.69 % and 6.6 % and consequently screening of sleep-disordered breathing in obese patients with or without suggestive symptoms should be routine. Genetic factors strongly influence sleep-disordered breathing and seem to account for 35-40 % of the variance in this disorder, although their precise role has yet to be clarified. Genetic study opens up an important gateway in the future medical approach to sleep-disordered breathing.

Anti-inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnea in children

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. Approximately 1% to 4% of children are affected by OSA, with adenotonsillar hypertrophy the most common underlying risk factor. Surgical removal of enlarged tonsils and adenoids is the most commonly used treatment for OSA. Given the perioperative risk of the intervention and an estimated recurrence rate of up to 20%, there has recently been an increased interest in non-surgical treatment modalities. As the enlarged adenoids and tonsils consist of hypertrophied lymphoid tissue, anti-inflammatory agents have been proposed as a useful non-invasive treatment option in children with OSA.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of OSA in children.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We identified trials using searches of the Cochrane Airways Group Specialized Register, MEDLINE (1950 to 2010), EMBASE (1988 to 2010), CINAHL (1982 to 2010), CENTRAL (1964 to 2010), Web of Science (1900 to 2010), LILACS (1982 to 2010) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) (1970 to 2010).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing anti-inflammatory drugs against placebo, other anti-inflammatory drugs, or other treatment in children between one and 16 years with objectively diagnosed OSA (Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥ 1/hour (h)).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Both authors independently performed data extraction and quality assessment. It was not possible to combine data from the included studies; we summarized data in a narrative fashion.

MAIN RESULTS

We included three RCTs. The first study was a six-week parallel-group trial (25 participants, mean age 3.8 years, mean AHI 10.8/h) of intranasal fluticasone versus placebo showed a statistically significant effect of the drug on improving the AHI. The second study compared intranasal budesonide with placebo in a six-week cross-over trial (62 participants, mean age 8.2 years, mean AHI 3.7/h). The authors reported an advantage of the drug over placebo in reducing the AHI. However, the patients were not analyzed as randomized so the result must be interpreted with caution. No valid group comparisons were reported for the third trial (30 participants, oral montelukast versus placebo in a 12-week parallel-group trial), which has so far only been published as an abstract.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

A single small study has found a short-term beneficial effect on the AHI in children with mild to moderate OSA. However, long-term safety and efficacy data are not available yet. Further RCTs are needed to evaluate anti-inflammatory drugs for OSA in children.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in children and anaesthesia

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common medical disorder among adults, which is increasingly being recognized in children too. It is a breathing disorder characterized by upper airway obstruction with or without intermittent complete obstruction that disrupts normal breathing during sleep. Anatomical and neuromuscular disorders are mainly responsible for this disorder. This disorder leads to a state of chronic hypoxemia, which has significant cardiac, pulmonary and central nervous system implications. Diagnosis of OSAS is based on thorough history and clinical examination along with appropriate sleep studies including polysomnography. The mainstay of treatment of paediatric OSAS is adenotonsillectomy. Good anaesthetic practice in Paediatric patients with OSAS revolves around good and ideal airway management. Early detection of airway obstruction, intense monitoring to warn of impending airway problems and appropriate and early intervention of airway compromise are good anaesthetic practices. Coexisting medical problems should be adequately addressed and safe analgesic techniques in the perioperative period go towards improving outcomes in patients with paediatric OSAS.

Perioperative management of children with obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) affects 1%-3% of children. Children with OSA can present for all types of surgical and diagnostic procedures requiring anesthesia, with adenotonsillectomy being the most common surgical treatment for OSA in the pediatric age group. Thus, it is imperative that the anesthesiologist be familiar with the potential anesthetic complications and immediate postoperative problems associated with OSA. The significant implications that the presence of OSA imposes on perioperative care have been recognized by national medical professional societies. The American Academy of Pediatrics published a clinical practice guideline for pediatric OSA in 2002, and cited an increased risk of anesthetic complications, though specific anesthetic issues were not addressed. In 2006, the American Society of Anesthesiologists published a practice guideline for perioperative management of patients with OSA that noted the pediatric-related risk factor of obesity, and the increased perioperative risk associated with adenotonsillectomy in children younger than 3 yr. However, management of OSA in children younger than 1 yr-of-age was excluded from the guideline, as were other issues related specifically to the pediatric patient. Hence, many questions remain regarding the perioperative care of the child with OSA. In this review, we examine the literature on pediatric OSA, discuss its pathophysiology, current treatment options, and recognized approaches to perioperative management of these young and potentially high-risk patients.

Efficacy of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

We sought to determine the effectiveness of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) in the treatment of children with moderately severe obstructive sleep apnea and to measure changes in quality of life that occur with such treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial in an academic pediatric otolaryngology practice.

METHODS

Convenience sample of children ages 3 to 12 years diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea of moderate severity, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) between 5 and 20 on polysomnography. Children with recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis, chromosomal abnormalities, craniofacial abnormalities, neuromotor disease, sickle cell disease, obesity, or coagulopathy were excluded. PITA was performed by using the microdebrider. Polysomnography was performed before surgery and repeated 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)-18 questionnaire was completed at surgery and at the time of postoperative polysomnography to assess quality of life changes. The main outcome measure was cure of obstructive sleep apnea, as defined by a postoperative AHI of 1 or less for complete cure and less than 5 for partial cure. Improvements in quality of life were assessed by changes in the OSA-18 questionnaire.

RESULTS

Nineteen children underwent PITA for moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and 14 completed postoperative polysomnography. All 14 subjects who completed the study achieved at least partial cure. Thirteen of 14 (93%) subjects had a complete cure of OSAS after PITA. The median preoperative AHI was 7.9, and the median AHI after surgery was 0.1. The mean number of arousals per hour before surgery was 9.5, and this was reduced to a mean of 5.6 after surgery. Quality of life measures on OSA-18 also improved, with large improvements in total quality of life scores and in all five domains seen after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

PITA cures otherwise healthy children with obstructive sleep apnea of moderate severity, at least in the short-term, as documented by postoperative polysomnography. Improvements in quality of life measures, as documented by changes in OSA-18, were seen in all children as well.

Factors affecting quality of life of pediatric outpatients with symptoms suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between causative factors of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and quality of life (QOL) of children who presented with SDB.

METHODS

Prospective cross-sectional study was done. Pediatric outpatients with SDB were recruited. Patients with craniofacial, neurologic or syndromic anomalies and previous adenotonsillectomy were excluded. Data collected were clinical history, physical examination and lateral skull X-ray, along with QOL survey by using obstructive sleep apnea-18 (OSA-18) questionnaires. We assessed the association between clinical signs, the size of the tonsils and the adenoids, overweight/obesity and the OSA-18 scores to see the impact of these factors on QOL.

RESULTS

Fifty-one children were enrolled. Mean age was 6.4+/-2.6 years. The most common clinical findings was mouth breathing (41.2%). Tonsillar hypertrophy (> or =3+) was found in 62.7 and 52.9% had adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio greater than 70%. Overweight/obesity were found in 35.3% of the patients. OSA-18 scores ranged from 22 to 85. Tonsillar hypertrophy was significantly related to QOL (p<0.05). Adenoid hypertrophy had trends towards impact on QOL (p=0.094). Mouth breathing correlated well with QOL (p<0.01). Overweight/obesity and QOL had no statistically significant correlation.

CONCLUSION

Tonsillar hypertrophy and mouth breathing were the clinical findings that affected most to the QOL of the children with SDB. Adenoid hypertrophy had trends towards the impact on QOL, although not statistically significant.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Children

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. This results in the disruption of normal ventilation and sleep patterns. The symptoms, polysomnographic findings, pathophysiology, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are significantly different in children from those seen in adults.