Polysomnographic outcomes following lingual tonsillectomy for persistent obstructive sleep apnea in down syndrome

Lingual tonsil hypertrophy is a common cause of persistent airway obstruction in patients with Down syndrome (DS) following adenotonsillectomy (T&A); however, little is known about the effect of lingual tonsillectomy (LT) on polysomnographic outcomes in these patients. Our objective was to describe changes in sleep-related respiratory outcomes following LT in children with DS and persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following T&A.

Retrospective case series.

We included all children with DS who underwent polysomnography before and after LT at a tertiary care center from 2003 to 2013. Nonparametric analysis of variables was performed.

Forty patients with DS underwent LT; 21 met inclusion criteria. The mean age at surgery was 9.3 ± 4.3 years and 47.6% were female. The median apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 9.1 events/hour (range, 3.8 to 43.8 events/hour) before surgery and 3.7 events/hour (range, 0.5 to 24.4 events/hour) after surgery. The median improvement in overall AHI and the obstructive AHI (oAHI) were 5.1 events/hour (range, -2.9 to 41) and 5.3 events/hour (range, -2.9 to 41), respectively (P <.0001). The mean oxygen saturation nadir improved from 84% to 89% (P =.004). The mean time with CO₂ > 50 mm Hg, central index, and percentage of rapid eye movement sleep were not significantly different. After surgery, the oAHI was <5 events/hour in 61.9% and ≤1 in 19% of patients.

In children with DS, persistent OSA after T&A and lingual tonsil hypertrophy, LT significantly improved AHI, oAHI, and O₂ saturation nadir. We recommend that children with DS should be evaluated for lingual tonsil hypertrophy if found to have persistent OSA following T&A.

4 Laryngoscope, 2016 127:520-524, 2017.