Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
[A comparative study on efficiency of different therapeutics methods used for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea
Insights
For children with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), surgery is the recommended first-line treatment. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) show good effectiveness for mild OSAHS, with surgery an option if symptoms persist.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) significantly impacts children's health and quality of life.
- Evaluating cost-effective therapeutic regimens for pediatric OSAHS is crucial for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness and cost of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) versus adenotonsillectomy for treating pediatric OSAHS.
- To determine optimal treatment strategies based on OSAHS severity and patient characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 118 children with OSAHS, divided into mild and moderate-to-severe groups.
- Treatments included LTRAs (Montelukast) or adenotonsillectomy.
- Evaluations used polysomnography (PSG) and the Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) questionnaire before and after a six-month treatment period.
Main Results:
- Adenotonsillectomy was highly effective (100%) for mild OSAHS and showed significant success (97%) in moderate-to-severe cases.
- LTRAs demonstrated effectiveness in 88% of mild OSAHS cases, with significant improvements in OSA-18 scores.
- Surgical treatment incurred a higher economic burden compared to LTRAs.
Conclusions:
- Surgery is the recommended first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe pediatric OSAHS, especially when nasal diseases are present.
- LTRAs are effective for mild OSAHS, but surgery should be considered if drug therapy yields insufficient clinical improvement.
- Treatment choice should balance therapeutic efficacy, cost, and individual patient factors.
Objective:
To evaluate effectiveness therapeutic regimens for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) children at an acceptable cost.
Method:
This study was performed at Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from Mar. 2008 to Dec. 2010. Prospective random number table method was used for the analysis; 60 children with mild OSAHS were divided into Mild OSAHS Montelukast Treatment (MM) group and Mild OSAHS Adenotonsillectomy Treatment (MAT) group. 32 children in MM group were treated with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs), while 28 children in MAT group were treated with adenotonsillectomy. Also, 58 children with moderate and severe OSAHS were divided into severe OSAHS Montelukast Treatment (SM) group and severe OSAHS Adenotonsillectomy Treatmen (SAT) group. Twenty-two children in SM group were treated with LTRAs, while 36 children in SAT group were treated with adenotonsillectomy. All selected children were evaluated by polysomnography (PSG) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) items before and after a six-month treatment. Both records were taken and analyzed, surgical complications and the reason for non-remission after operation were also analyzed. Two therapies were compared based on economic consideration and therapeutic effect. Result (1) PSG: A significant change of a significant change of Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was observed in MM group after the treatment (before receiving the treatment 4.56 ± 1. 26, and after receiving the treatment 3. 48 ± 1. 52, t =3. 50, P <0. 05). But for oxygen desaturation Index (ODI) (MM group 2. 18 ± 2. 19, and MAT group 1. 80 ± 2. 34) and Lowest Oxygen satuation (LSaO2) (MM group 91. 66 ± 2. 34, and MAT group 92. 79 ± 2. 18), there was no significant difference in MM group and MAT group after the treatment (ODI, t =0. 65, and LSaO2 t = - 1. 93, P >0. 05). (2) OSA-18 scores: Significant differences were found in sleeping disorder (before 14. 81 ± 6. 28, and after 10. 56 ± 3. 57), the degree of familial stress (before 13. 56 ± 3. 54, and after 8. 97 ± 2. 96), and OSA-18 total scores (before 52. 66 ± 1. 11, and after 42. 56 6. 48) in MM group after the treatment (sleeping disorder Z - 3. 14, the degree of familial stress Z = -4. 50, and OSA-18 total scores Z= -4. 01, P <0. 05). (3) In addition to the cost of drugs, groups with surgical treatment had a larger economic burden than those with LTRAs treatment. (4) Treatment was totally effective for 28 children (88%) in MM group, and 28 children (100%) in MAT group. Meanwhile, treatment also achieved an obvious effect on 2 children (9%) in SM group, and in 35 children (97%) in SAT group. In MAT group, 3 children improved (11%). And in SAT group, 7 children improved (19%), but treatment was found to be ineffective in 1 case (3%). Among those effective and ineffective cases in groups with surgical treatment, there were 9 children with nasal diseases.
Conclusion:
(1) Surgical treatment is recommended as the first choice for children with moderate and severe OSAHS. And for those who also suffer from nasal diseases, treatment combining drugs with surgery is necessary. (2) LTRAs therapy has a good effect for mild OSAHS. Surgery is also recommended when drugs could not achieve any obvious improvement in clinical symptoms of children with mild OSAHS.
