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Published on: December 6, 2016
Latest trends in the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and sleep apnoea
S D Sharma1, H Kanona1, G Kumar1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Queen's Hospital,Romford,UK.
Insights
UK otolaryngology departments show varied approaches to assessing and managing paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Further guidelines are needed for consistent pre- and post-operative pulse oximetry use in OSA care.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) require consistent management strategies.
- Current practices in the UK for managing these conditions are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the current assessment and management protocols for paediatric snoring and OSA in UK otolaryngology departments.
- To identify variations in clinical practice, particularly regarding pulse oximetry use and post-operative follow-up.
Main Methods:
- A telephone questionnaire survey was conducted across UK otolaryngology departments.
- The survey targeted 139 trusts over a 16-week period to gather data on assessment and management practices.
Main Results:
- A 61% response rate was achieved, with 84% using pre-operative pulse oximetry, primarily for OSA diagnosis or risk stratification.
- Only 31% reported using post-operative pulse oximetry, and 25% had dedicated OSA management protocols.
- Variations were noted in surgical approval requirements and post-operative follow-up rates (58%).
Conclusions:
- Significant variation exists in the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and OSA across UK otolaryngology departments.
- The use of pre- and post-operative pulse oximetry monitoring is inconsistent.
- There is a clear need for updated guidelines to standardize care for these conditions.
Objective:
To investigate the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in UK otolaryngology departments.
Method:
A telephone questionnaire survey of UK otolaryngology departments was conducted over a 16-week period.
Results:
The response rate was 61 per cent (85 out of 139 trusts). Use of pre-operative pulse oximetry was reported by 84 per cent of respondents, mainly to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea (73 per cent) or stratify post-operative risk (46 per cent). Thirty-one per cent of respondents reported using post-operative pulse oximetry. Twenty-five per cent of respondents have a dedicated management protocol for paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring. Thirty-four per cent require prior clinical commissioning group approval before performing surgery. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents reported following up their obstructive sleep apnoea patients after surgery. The mean follow-up period (±standard deviation) was 6.8 ± 1.2 weeks.
Conclusion:
There is variation in the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea across the UK, particularly in the use of pre- and post-operative pulse oximetry monitoring, and further guidelines regarding this are necessary.
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