Sleep-disordered breathing in pediatric head and neck vascular malformations

To determine the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms among children with head and neck vascular malformations and to compare obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-18 scores between children with head and neck vascular malformations and children with non-head and neck vascular malformations.

Retrospective cohort and prospective cross-sectional studies METHODS: Forty-three pediatric subjects with head and neck vascular malformations evaluated at a tertiary-care multidisciplinary vascular anomalies center were included in a retrospective cohort study. Eighty-three consecutive pediatric subjects with vascular malformations evaluated at the same center were included in the prospective cross-sectional study.

In the retrospective cohort study, 20 (47%) subjects with head and neck malformations had documented SDB symptoms. Of those with SDB symptoms, five (25%) required long-term tracheotomy. The children with SDB symptoms had greater vascular malformation size, more extensive pharyngeal involvement, greater vascular malformation mass effect on airway, and closer proximity of malformation to airway when compared to children without SDB symptoms. For the prospective cross-sectional study, 23% of pediatric subjects had malformations of the head and neck. Those with head and neck malformations had a higher OSA-18 score and a lower overall quality of life (QOL) score when compared to subjects with non-head and neck malformations.

Nearly half of children with head and neck vascular malformations have SDB symptoms. Children with head and neck vascular malformations have a higher OSA-18 score and lower overall QOL score when compared to children with non-head and neck vascular malformations.

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2159-2164, 2017.