Open AccessChanges in Central Sleep Apnea Index Following Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy
Author(s) -
Baldassari Cristina,
Bryant Lucas,
Kepchar Jessica J.,
Choi Sukgi S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811416318a207
Subject(s) - medicine , polysomnography , obstructive sleep apnea , tonsillectomy , apnea , sleep apnea , incidence (geometry) , central sleep apnea , anesthesia , retrospective cohort study , hypopnea , pediatrics , apnea–hypopnea index , physics , optics
Objective Determine if there are changes in the central apnea index (CAI) when pediatric patients undergo adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Method Retrospective review conducted at 2 tertiary children’s hospitals over 10 years. Children 1 to 18 years old who underwent adenotonsillectomy for OSA and had both pre‐ and postoperative full‐night polysomnography (PSG), with central sleep apnea (CSA) on preoperative PSG, were eligible. Criteria for diagnosis of CSA was CAI greater than 1. Results A total of 101 children with OSA had pre‐ and postoperative PSG. Fifteen of these patients had preoperative CSA. Ten of the children (66.7%) were male, and the mean age was 67.7 months (SD, 62.7). The mean preoperative CAI was 3.9 (SD, 2.9), while the postoperative CAI was 1.9 (SD, 4.8). The CAI ranged from 1.1 to 11.1. There was significant improvement ( P =. 008) of the CAI following adenotonsillectomy. There was also significant improvement ( P =. 004) of the obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI), with the mean preoperative OAHI of 22.8 (SD 19.8) decreasing to an OAHI of 5.5 (SD 6.5) postoperatively. Conclusion Children with OSA and mild central sleep apnea on preoperative PSG showed significant improvement in the CAI following adenotonsillectomy. Future studies are needed to determine the incidence and clinical significance of central sleep apnea in children with OSA.