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Updated: May 24, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Increased eustachian tube dysfunction in infants with obstructive sleep apnea

Jacob G Robison1, Caleb Wilson, Todd D Otteson

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

The Laryngoscope
|February 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) affects 32% of infants with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a significantly higher rate than in the general pediatric population. Early evaluation for ETD in infants with OSA is recommended, as surgical OSA treatment can reduce the need for further ETD procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in infants.
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a frequent complication in pediatric populations.
  • The co-occurrence of ETD and OSA in infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of ETD in infants diagnosed with OSA.
  • To compare ETD prevalence in infants with OSA to the general pediatric population.
  • To assess the impact of OSA interventions on the need for ETD-related procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for infants aged 3-24 months.
  • Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of OSA via polysomnography and ETD confirmed by myringotomy and ventilation tube (MT) placement.
  • Data collected included demographics, apnea-hypopnea index, MT details, OSA treatments, and comorbidities.

Main Results:

  • Of 295 infants with OSA, 94 (31.9%) also had ETD.
  • A total of 135 MT procedures were performed; 31.9% of patients required two or more.
  • Surgical interventions for OSA reduced the subsequent need for MT procedures.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of ETD in infants with OSA is significantly higher (32%) than in the general pediatric population (4-7%).
  • Infants evaluated for OSA should also be assessed for ETD.
  • Surgical treatment for OSA appears to decrease the requirement for further MT procedures.
Abstract

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