Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in neurologically impaired children

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.

A review of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate existing literature to understand the utility and safety of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

A literature review was conducted by two authors to search for studies from the inception of two databases until March 1, 2023. Studies in which participants were under 18 years of age and underwent UPPP for OSA or upper airway obstruction were selected. Data on variables such as pre- and postoperative severity, efficacy, complications, and follow-up were collected from all studies.

RESULTS

After applying inclusion criteria to the initial 91 abstracts that were screened, 26 studies remained that included 224 patients who underwent UPPP. Most children who underwent UPPP had neurologic impairment, developmental delay, craniofacial abnormalities, or were obese, and underwent several procedures for OSA treatment. Of the studies that reported outcomes, 85.6 % of patients had subjective improvement, and 25.6 % of patients had a reported complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Most children who underwent UPPP had serious medical comorbidities with moderate or severe OSA and a multi-procedural treatment plan. Although most patients had subjective improvement and there were low complication rates, the heterogeneity of existing literature makes it difficult to draw conclusions. Future multi-center, prospective studies should be conducted to analyze the true safety and efficacy of UPPP in pediatric patients.

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Update for the Primary Care Provider

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common entity that can cause both daytime and nighttime issues. Children with symptoms should be screened for OSA. If possible, polysomnography should be performed to evaluate symptomatic children. Depending on the severity, first-line options for treatment of pediatric OSA may include observation, weight loss, medication, or surgery. Even after adenotonsillectomy, about 20% of children will have persistent OSA. Sleep endoscopy and cine MRI are tools that may be used to identify sites of obstruction, which in turn can help in the selection of site-specific treatment.

Innovations in the Treatment of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea affects a large proportion of otherwise healthy children in the context of interactions between craniofacial elements, adenotonsillar hypertrophy and other anatomical factors, and neuromuscular reflexes of the upper airway. In light of the adverse consequences of sleep apnea, it is important not only to proceed with early diagnosis but also to implement adequate treatment that is guided by the pathophysiological determinants of the disease in each child. Here, we will describe the current standard of care approaches to the treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, and will also explore novel management strategies that should enable more personalized therapy in the near future.

Alternative Approaches to Adenotonsillectomy and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for the Management of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): A Review

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered first-line treatment in the management of pediatric patients without a surgically correctible cause of obstruction who have confirmed moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The evidence supports its reduction on patient morbidity and positive influence on neurobehavioral outcome. Unfortunately, in clinical practice, many patients either refuse CPAP or cannot tolerate it. An update on alternative approaches to CPAP for the management of OSA is discussed in this review, supported by the findings of systematic reviews and recent clinical studies. Alternative approaches to CPAP and adenotonsillectomy for the management of OSA include weight management, positional therapy, pharmacotherapy, high-flow nasal cannula, and the use of orthodontic procedures, such as rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement devices. Surgical procedures for the management of OSA include tongue-base reduction surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, lingual tonsillectomy, supraglottoplasty, tracheostomy, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation. It is expected that this review will provide an update on the evidence available regarding alternative treatment approaches to CPAP for clinicians who manage patients with pediatric OSA in daily clinical practice.

Non-invasive Ventilation and CPAP Failure in Children and Indications for Invasive Ventilation

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are effective treatments for children with severe sleep disordered breathing (SBD). However, some patients may present too severe SDB that do not respond to NIV/CPAP or insufficient compliance to treatment. A careful revaluation of the interface and of ventilator settings should be performed before considering alternative treatments. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), alternatives to CPAP/NIV rely on the underlying disease. Ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgery such as adeno-tonsillectomy (AT), turbinectomy or supraglottoplasty represent an effective treatment in selected patients before starting CPAP/NIV and should be reconsidered in case of CPAP failure. Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is restricted to children with OSA and a narrow palate who have little adenotonsillar tissue, or for those with residual OSA after AT. Weight loss is the first line therapy for obese children with OSA before starting CPAP and should remain a priority in the long-term. Selected patients may benefit from maxillo-facial surgery such as mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) or from neurosurgery procedures like fronto-facial monobloc advancement. Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may constitute efficient alternatives to CPAP in selected patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has been proposed in children with Down syndrome not tolerant to CPAP. Ultimately, tracheostomy represents the unique alternative in case of failure of all the above-mentioned treatments. All these treatments require a multidisciplinary approach with a personalized treatment tailored on the different diseases and sites of obstruction. In patients with neuromuscular, neurological or lung disorders, non-invasive management in case of NIV failure is more challenging. Diaphragmatic pacing has been proposed for some patients with central congenital hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) or neurological disorders, however its experience in children is limited. Finally, invasive ventilation via tracheotomy represents again the ultimate alternative for children with severe disease and little or no ventilatory autonomy. However, ethical considerations weighting the efficacy against the burden of this treatment should be discussed before choosing this last option.

Multilevel Sleep Surgery Including the Palate in Nonsyndromic, Neurologically Intact Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective

To examine the effects of multilevel sleep surgery, including palate procedures, on obstructive sleep apnea parameters in the pediatric population.

Study Design

A case series with chart review was conducted to identify nonsyndromic, neurologically intact pediatric patients who underwent either uvulectomy or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty as part of multilevel sleep surgery from 2011 through 2017.

Setting

A tertiary care, university children’s hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Unpaired Student t test was used to compare average pre- and postsurgical apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation nadir (OSN). Paired Student t test was used to compare the mean pre- and postsurgical AHI and OSN within the same patient for the effects of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) vs multilevel sleep surgery.

Results

In patients who underwent T&A previously, multilevel sleep surgery, including palate procedures, resulted in improved OSA severity in 6 (86%) patients and worsened OSA in 1 (14%) patient. Multilevel sleep surgery, including palate procedures, significantly decreased mean AHI from 37.98 events/h preoperatively to 8.91 events/h postoperatively (P = .005). However, it did not significantly decrease OSN.

Conclusion

This study includes one of the largest populations of children in whom palate procedures as a part of multilevel sleep surgery have been performed safely with no major complications and a low rate of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Therefore, palatal surgery as a part of multilevel sleep surgery is not necessarily the pariah that we have traditional thought it is in pediatric otolaryngology.

Correlations between obstructive sleep apnea and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children of different weight status

The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between OSA and adenotonsillar size in children of different weight status. A total of 451 patients aged 2–13 years with suspected OSA were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Correlations between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and adenotonsillar size in different weight status were investigated. The adenoidal/nasopharyngeal (A/N) ratio of underweight children was significantly higher than that of normal-weight children (P = 0.027). Both adenoid and tonsil size were positively correlated with logAHI in children of normal weight (r = 0.210, P = 0.001; and r = 0.212, P = 0.001) but uncorrelated in the other groups. Gender (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.01–2.20, P = 0.043), obese (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.10–3.40, P = 0.012), A/N ratio (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.28–1.88, P < 0.001) and tonsil size (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.18–1.57, P < 0.001) were all associated with the severity of OSA. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy contributed to OSA in normal-weight children. In children of abnormal weight, instead of treatment for adenotonsillar hypertrophy, appropriate treatments for other factors are required.

Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Obese Children: Literature Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Surgical intervention for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in overweight and obese children may not be as effective as it is in normal-weight children. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of various surgical interventions for OSA in obese children and to meta-analyze the current data.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, OVID, and Cochrane databases.

REVIEW METHODS

Databases were searched for studies examining adenotonsillectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, supraglottoplasty, or tongue base surgeries and combinations in obese children with OSA. Adenotonsillectomy was the only procedure with enough data for meta-analysis; polysomnographic data were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

For adenotonsillectomy, 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Despite significant improvement in the apnea-hypopnea index (22.9 to 8.1 events/h, P < .001), respiratory disturbance index (24.8 to 10.4 events/h, P < .001), and oxygen saturation nadir (78.4% to 87.0%, P < .001), rates of persistent OSA ranged from 51% to 66%, depending on the outcome criterion used. There was evidence of limited effectiveness for surgical interventions to treat OSA in obese children using uvulopalatoplasty (12.5%) and tongue base surgery (74%-88%).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical interventions for OSA in overweight and obese children are effective at reducing OSA but with higher rates of persistent OSA than reported for normal-weight children. However, the amount of reduction appears to vary by surgical procedure. More attention should be paid toward preoperative weight loss and patient selection, and parents should be provided with realistic postoperative expectations in this difficult-to-treat population.

[The immunological consequences and risks of adenoidectomy]

The objective of the present review article was the analysis of the potential risks and negative consequences associated with the surgical treatment of adenoids and the comparison of the potential harm to health and effectiveness of adenoidectomy for the children. It is concluded, based on the currently available information, that adenoidectomy provides an efficient surgical method for the management of the problems associated with adenoid pathology. The application of this technique based on the proper medical indications has no adverse effects on the children's health conditions and the mechanisms of immune protection. Moreover, it contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of the patients, fosters their physical and mental development.

Lingual tonsillectomy in children with Down syndrome: Is it safe?

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate peri-operative course and morbidity in children with Down syndrome (DS) who underwent a lingual tonsillectomy (LT) for residual obstructive sleep apnea (rOSA).

METHODS

Retrospective case series for children with DS who underwent LT for rOSA from April 2011 to July 2016. Our primary outcomes were length of stay, readmission and complications. Surgical effectiveness was evaluated by change in the obstructive apnea-hypopnea-index(OAHI) and oxygen saturation nadir.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients underwent LT. The mean length of stay was 1.3 days with n = 21(72%) staying one night. One subject (2.6%) had a post-operative bleed that did not require operative intervention. No other major complications occurred. In terms of effectiveness of surgery, twenty-nine children had sufficient data for inclusion. Median OAHI did not appreciably change (p = 0.07) from before surgery. Five subjects (17%) were cured of OSA (OAHI < 2/hour) and a mix of improvement and worsening was identified. The lowest oxygen saturation improved from 78% (SD = 7) before surgery to 82% (SD = 6) after surgery (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

LT has a favorable post-operative course but its effectiveness at curing rOSA in the DS population has not been established/proven. Further research is indicated to determine optimal surgical management for DS children with LTH.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Epidemiology and trend of pediatric adenoidectomy: a population-based study in Taiwan from 1997 to 2012

OBJECTIVES

To assess population-level data for pediatric adenoidectomy.

METHODS

Using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 1997-2012 period, all inpatients <18 years who received adenoidectomies were identified by codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

RESULTS

A total of 20,599 children underwent adenoidectomy (mean age, 7.4 years; 67% boys). The overall incidence rate was 24.5 per 100,000 children. The highest incidence was observed for the ages of 3-5 years in both genders (p < .001). Boys exhibited higher incidence rates than did girls (p < .001). Longitudinal data revealed an increase in the incidence rates from 1997 (14.8/100,000) to 2012 (26.9/100,000) (p trend < .001). The proportion of adenoidectomies performed at medical centers decreased from 60.5 to 46.9%, whereas those performed at regional hospitals increased from 36.4 to 47.2% (all p trend < .001). The proportion of pediatric adenoidectomies performed for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) increased significantly from 10.1 to 35.6%, whereas those for infections decreased from 32.3 to 8.0% (all p trend < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed an increasing trend of pediatric inpatient adenoidectomy incidence rates during 1997-2012 in Taiwan. Moreover, surgical indications have shifted from infections to SDB.

Pediatric Sleep Apnea Syndrome: An Update

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may be central neurologic (<5%) or obstructive (>95%) in origin and is a relatively prevalent condition in children. It affects 1%-5% of children aged 2-8 years and is caused by a variety of different pathophysiologic abnormalities. Cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive comorbidities can occur in both children and adults when left untreated. It also can cause severe behavioral problems in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened with an appropriate history and physical examination for symptoms and signs suggestive of OSAS. The diagnosis is primarily made clinically and confirmed by polysomnographic findings. Treatment depends on the child's age, underlying medical problems, polysomnography findings, and whether or not there is upper airway obstruction usually secondary to enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils, allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, and other upper airway pathology. If enlarged adenoid or tonsils or both conditions exist, an adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenotonsillectomy remains the treatment of choice. Pharmacotherapy of OSAS has shown some effect in children with mild symptoms. This paper reviews the prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of OSAS.

Treatment Options for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are a variety of therapies available for the treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In children with enlarged adenoids or tonsils, adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the preferred treatment, but other surgical options include partial tonsillectomy and lingual tonsillectomy. In specific populations, craniofacial or bariatric surgery may be indicated, and tracheostomy should be reserved for cases where there is no other therapeutic option. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the most effective non-surgical therapy for OSAS as it can be successfully used in even cases of severe OSAS. Nasal steroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists may be used in the treatment of mild or moderate OSAS. Rapid maxillary expansion and dental appliances may be effective in select populations with dental problems. Other non-surgical therapies, such as positional therapy, supplemental oxygen, and weight loss have not been shown to be effective in most pediatric populations.

Obstructive sleep disordered breathing in 2- to 18-year-old children: diagnosis and management

This document summarises the conclusions of a European Respiratory Society Task Force on the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in childhood and refers to children aged 2-18 years. Prospective cohort studies describing the natural history of SDB or randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials regarding its management are scarce. Selected evidence (362 articles) can be consolidated into seven management steps. SDB is suspected when symptoms or abnormalities related to upper airway obstruction are present (step 1). Central nervous or cardiovascular system morbidity, growth failure or enuresis and predictors of SDB persistence in the long-term are recognised (steps 2 and 3), and SDB severity is determined objectively preferably using polysomnography (step 4). Children with an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) >5 episodes·h(-1), those with an AHI of 1-5 episodes·h(-1) and the presence of morbidity or factors predicting SDB persistence, and children with complex conditions (e.g. Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome) all appear to benefit from treatment (step 5). Treatment interventions are usually implemented in a stepwise fashion addressing all abnormalities that predispose to SDB (step 6) with re-evaluation after each intervention to detect residual disease and to determine the need for additional treatment (step 7).

Propofol anesthesia for children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison with isoflurane, nitrous oxide, and a laryngeal mask airway

BACKGROUND

Both propofol infusions with oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and isoflurane/N2O (nitrous oxide) delivered via a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) are used to provide anesthesia for children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging scans. We compared the incidence of adverse events and perioperative physiologic responses in children anesthetized with these 2 regimens.

METHODS

One hundred-fifty healthy children, ages 1 to 10 years, were randomized to receive either a propofol infusion (starting at 300 µg kg·min) with oxygen via nasal cannula (n = 75) or isoflurane with 70% N2O in oxygen delivered via an LMA (n = 75), both after a sevoflurane/N2O/oxygen induction. Adverse airway events, as well as hemodynamic, respiratory, and other physiologic responses were recorded during the magnetic resonance imaging scans and in the postanesthesia care unit by a single research nurse who was blind to the treatments. All parents were contacted postoperatively to complete a postanesthetic follow-up.

RESULTS

All 150 children completed their scans. The frequency of all adverse airway events during emergence and recovery after propofol (12%) was significantly less than that after isoflurane/N2O/LMA (49%) (95% confidence interval for the risk difference was 23%-50%) (P = 0.0001). Hemodynamic responses and recovery times for the 2 treatments were similar. Early recovery, defined as the time interval from admission to the postanesthesia care unit until eye opening and wakefulness (modified Aldrete score >5), after propofol was more rapid than that after isoflurane/N2O/LMA (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0012, respectively). No scans had to be repeated.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of adverse airway events during emergence and recovery after propofol infusion with oxygen by nasal cannula is less than with isoflurane/N2O/LMA in children.

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.

[Surgical treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders in children]

The surgical treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders in children depends on the cause of the upper airway obstruction, which can be located in the nasal fossae, pharynx (the most frequent adenotonsillar hyperplasia), or larynx (laryngomalacia, cysts…), or can be multilevel, as in syndromic diseases. Adenotonsillectomy is the most frequently performed and effective (70-80%) procedure. The aim of this technique is to normalize nocturnal respiratory parameters and daytime symptoms, as well as to revert, or at least to halt, cardiovascular complications, neurocognitive disturbances, growth delay and enuresis, which can develop if treatment is not provided or is delayed. However, despite its effectiveness, adenotonsillectomy more frequently leads to complications in children with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) than in those undergoing this procedure for other reasons. Moreover, 20-30% of children with SAHS who undergo adenotonsillectomy will show residual SAHS, and this percentage can increase to 70% in patients with severe SAHS, Down syndrome, craniofacial anomalies, neuromuscular disturbances, and morbid obesity. Consequently, both clinical and polysomnographic follow-up are recommended after adenotonsillectomy, especially in the latter risk group. Finally, other obstructive disorders of the upper airway must also be treated, although less frequently due to their lower incidence. These disorders include choanal atresia or stenosis, laryngomalacia, and hypoplasia of the midface or mandible. Tracheotomy will sometimes be required.

Adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea in obese children: A meta-analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese children.

Data Sources: PubMed and Ovid databases.

Review Methods: A meta-analysis of studies that reported sleep parameters in obese children with OSA before and after T&A. Data were analyzed using the random effects model. Statistical significance was P ≤ 0.05.

Results: Data from four studies that included 110 children were analyzed. The mean sample size was 27.5 (range, 18–33). The mean body mass index z score was 2.81. The mean pre- and postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 29.4 (range, 22.2–34.3) and 10.3 (range, 6.0–12.2), respectively. The weighted mean difference between pre- and postoperative AHI was a significant reduction of 18.3 events per hour (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.2–25.5). The mean pre- and postoperative oxygen saturation nadir was 78.4 percent (range, 73.9%-81.1%) and 85.7 percent (range, 83.6%-89.9%), respectively. The weighted mean difference was a significant increase of the oxygen saturation nadir of 6.3 percent (95% CI, 3.9–8.7). Forty-nine percent of children had a postoperative AHI <5, 25 percent of children had a postoperative AHI <2, and 12 percent of children had a postoperative AHI <1.

Conclusions: T&A improves but does not resolve OSA in the majority of obese children. The efficacy and role of additional therapeutic options require more study. The high incidence of obesity in children makes this a public health priority.

Childhood obstructive sleep-disordered breathing: a clinical update and discussion of technological innovations and challenges

Childhood sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been known to be associated with health and cognitive impacts for more than a century, and yet our understanding of this disorder is in its infancy. Neuropsychological consequences in children with snoring or subtle breathing disturbances not meeting the traditional definition of sleep apnea suggest that "benign, or primary snoring" may be clinically significant, and that the true prevalence of SDB might be underestimated. There is no standard definition of SDB in children. The polysomnographic technology used in many sleep laboratories may be inadequate to diagnose serious but subtle forms of clinically important airflow limitation. In the last several years, advances in digital technology as well as new observational studies of respiratory and arousal patterns in large populations of healthy children have led to alternative views of what constitutes sleep-related breathing and arousal abnormalities that may refine our diagnostic criteria. This article reviews our knowledge of childhood SDB, highlights recent advances in technology, and discusses diagnostic and treatment strategies that will advance the management of children with pediatric SDB.

Surgery for Pediatric Sleep Apnea

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in children are caused by a diverse group of anatomic and physiologic pathologies. These disorders share a common clinical presentation as stertor or sonorous breathing, occasionally accompanied by apneic events of variable duration. Successful management depends on accurate identification of the site of obstruction and the severity of obstruction. Intervention, both surgical and nonsurgical, is tailored to the disorder. In children with SRBD, such intervention may alter behavior and cognition, improve sleep and feeding, or even save a life.

Continuous positive airway pressure for children: A discussion on how to maximize compliance

As pediatric sleep facilities and resources expand, increasing numbers of children with sleep-disordered breathing requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment are being identified. Despite extensive expertise in treating adults with CPAP, many centres have little experience using CPAP in the pediatric population. The successful initiation and continued effective treatment with CPAP requires a unique and specialized approach to the pediatric patient and their family. Nearly, half of children needing CPAP will be uncooperative upon initial exposure to this unusual treatment. This review aims to outline an approach to the successful initiation of CPAP treatment in children including some trouble-shooting strategies to maximize initial and ongoing compliance with prescribed therapy.

Quality of Life and Sleep Study Findings After Adenotonsillectomy in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVES

To assess polysomnogram (PSG) results and global and disease-specific quality of life (QOL) in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), before and after adenotonsillectomy, and to assess the association between PSG findings and QOL.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study. We performed overnight PSG using standardized techniques and assessed disease-specific and global QOL using validated instruments. Follow-up was assessed at 1 year. We compared QOL outcomes between children who underwent adenotonsillectomy and children who did not.

SETTING

A large tertiary care children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Children with sleep-disordered breathing who were suspected of having OSA.

INTERVENTION

Adenotonsillectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We evaluated PSG parameters, disease-specific QOL, and global QOL.

RESULTS

We enrolled 47 children, 31 of whom met PSG criteria for OSA. Disease-specific and global QOL were not significantly different between children with OSA and children without. Global QOL was significantly worse for children with OSA than healthy children on several subscales: general health perception, behavior, and parental impact-emotional. Children who underwent adenotonsillectomy had significant improvements in QOL scores and PSG parameters (apnea-hypopnea index, P = .004; minimum saturation, P = .004). We found significantly larger QOL changes in children who underwent surgery compared with children without surgery (subscales: infections, P = .01; airway, P = .002; swallowing, P = .02; and behavior, P = .03). No strong association was identified between QOL scores and PSG parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with OSA and sleep-disordered breathing have significantly worse QOL than healthy children. However, the association between PSG findings and QOL was only moderate. Children with OSA treated with adenotonsillectomy demonstrated large improvements in disease-specific and global QOL as well as PSG parameters.

Obstructive sleep apnea in children: an update

The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in children requires clinical suspicion supplemented with the use of specific diagnostic tests. Polysomnography remains the key to diagnosis, and helps to assess the need for treatment, the risk for perioperative respiratory compromise, and the likelihood of persistent OSAS after treatment. Adenotonsillectomy is the mainstay of treatment, although children with complex medical conditions that affect upper airway anatomy and tone may require additional treatment.