Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2000 Feb;33(1):49-75. doi: 10.1016/s0030-6665(05)70207-3.

Abstract

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea occurs in about 2% of children, and manifests as snoring, difficulty breathing, and witnessed apneic spells. Daytime symptoms include excessive sleepiness with poor performance and behavior problems. Severe forms may be associated with failure-to-thrive or death. The gold standard diagnostic procedure is overnight polysomnography and is indicated in high-risk patients. While most pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy; uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tracheotomy, or other procedures are sometimes indicated. Nonsurgical treatment with continuous positive airway pressure is used in some children. Postoperative management in high-risk children includes careful perioperative monitoring and postoperative polysomnography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Humans
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / diagnosis*
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*