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Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy for REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea
David F Smith1,2,3, Shan He1,4, Nithin S Peddireddy1
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 2018, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-2018, USA.
Insights
Dexmedetomidine/ketamine drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) effectively identifies airway obstruction in children with REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This approach aids in predicting surgical success for pediatric OSA patients without tonsillar hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Dexmedetomidine (DEX) sedation mimics non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, raising questions about its use in REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Identifying specific sites of airway obstruction is crucial for effective treatment planning in pediatric OSA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) using DEX and ketamine in children with REM-predominant OSA.
- To determine if DISE can identify at least one site of obstruction in these patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series of 56 children without tonsillar hypertrophy undergoing DISE.
- Patients underwent polysomnography (PSG) before and after surgery.
- DISE utilized dexmedetomidine (DEX) and ketamine for sedation.
Main Results:
- DISE identified at least one obstruction site in all patients, irrespective of REM- or NREM-predominance.
- Significant improvements in obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) were observed in both REM- and NREM-predominant OSA groups post-surgery.
- Children with REM-predominant OSA showed significant improvements in saturation nadir, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency.
Conclusions:
- DISE with DEX/ketamine is effective in identifying airway obstruction in children with OSA, including those with REM-predominance.
- DISE-guided treatment led to significant improvements in oAHI, sleep metrics, and oxygen saturation post-surgery.
- This diagnostic tool aids in predicting surgical outcomes for pediatric OSA patients without tonsillar hypertrophy.
Study Objectives:
Because dexmedetomidine (DEX)-induced sedation mimics non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, its utility in sedating children with REM-predominant disease is unclear. We sought to determine the effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) using DEX and ketamine for children with REM-predominant OSA, specifically whether or not at least one site of obstruction could be identified.
Methods:
A retrospective case series of children without tonsillar hypertrophy undergoing DISE at a tertiary pediatric hospital from 10/2013 through 9/2015 who underwent subsequent surgery to address OSA with polysomnography (PSG) before and after.
Results:
We included 56 children, mean age 5.6±5.4 years, age range 0.1-17.4 years, mean BMI 20.3±7.4 kg/m2 (76±29 percentile). At least one site of obstruction was identified in all patients, regardless of REM- or NREM-predominance. The mean obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) improved (12.6 ± 10.7 to 9.0 ± 14.0 events/h) in children with REM-predominant (P = 0.013) and NREM-predominant disease (21.3 ± 18.9 to 10.3 ± 16.2 events/h) (P = 0.008). The proportion of children with a postoperative oAHI < 5 was 53% and 55% for REM- and NREMpredominant OSA, respectively. Unlike children with NREM-predominant disease, children with REM-predominant disease had significant improvement in the mean saturation nadir (P < 0.001), total sleep time (P = 0.006), and sleep efficiency (P = 0.015).
Conclusions:
For children with OSA without tonsillar hypertrophy, DISE using DEX/ketamine was useful to predict at least one site of obstruction, even for those with REM-predominant OSA. DISE-directed outcomes resulted in significant improvements in mean oAHI, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, saturation nadir, and the proportion with oAHI < 5, after surgery for some children with REM-predominant disease.
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