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Published on: December 6, 2016
Surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea in infants and young toddlers
Joseph S Brigance1, R Christopher Miyamoto, Peter Schilt
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Insights
Surgical intervention significantly improved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in young children compared to medical management. While complications occurred, the overall outcomes for pediatric OSA patients were favorable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Sleep Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a significant health concern in infants and young toddlers.
- Management strategies for pediatric OSA require careful consideration of efficacy and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of surgical management versus medical management for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children younger than 24 months.
- To evaluate the complication rates associated with surgical interventions for pediatric OSA.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series involving chart review of 73 children under 24 months with OSA.
- Surgical treatments included adenotonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tonsillectomy.
- Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) changes were analyzed pre- and post-treatment; logistic regression assessed complication factors.
Main Results:
- Surgical treatment led to a significant improvement in AHI (mean change of 9.6), while medical treatment showed no significant improvement (mean change of -3.0).
- The difference in AHI change between surgical and medical groups was statistically significant (P = 0.01).
- 18% of surgically treated patients experienced significant postoperative complications; comorbidities were common in both groups, but no long-term morbidities or mortalities were reported.
Conclusions:
- Surgical intervention is an effective treatment for improving AHI in infants and young toddlers with obstructive sleep apnea.
- The complication rate in this tertiary pediatric hospital setting, including patients with comorbidities, was deemed acceptable.
Objective:
Review surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants and young toddlers compared with a medically treated group.
Study Design:
Case series with chart review of children younger than 24 months treated at a tertiary pediatric hospital between 2000 and 2005.
Subjects And Methods:
Surgical treatment included adenotonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tonsillectomy. Polysomnography results, comorbidities, and major complications were recorded. The change in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) before and after treatment was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis reviewed effects of comorbidities and OSA severity on complications.
Results:
A total of 73 children met inclusion criteria. The surgical treatment group (AHI) improved posttreatment: mean AHI change was 9.6 (95% CI, 5.8-13.4). The medical treatment group did not improve posttreatment: mean AHI change was -3.0 (95% CI, -15.1 to 9.1). The difference in AHI change between surgical and medical groups was 12.56 (95% CI, 2.7-22.4). An independent t test found this difference to be statistically significant (P = 0.01). Eleven (18%) patients suffered significant postoperative surgical complications; 55 surgical patients and 8 medical patients had comorbidities. There were no long-term morbidities or mortalities.
Conclusions:
AHI in the surgically treated group significantly improved. The complication rate for a tertiary pediatric hospital population that included patients with multiple comorbidities was acceptable.
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