Features of sleependoscopy in children

Abstract

To describe the technique and determine the indications for sleep endoscopy in children. This study included 35 children, the average age of 5 years 1 month ± 3 years 4 months (from 1 year 6 months to 14 years 5 months). All children underwent standard polysomnography and sleep endoscopy. According to polysomnography, severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was diagnosed in 21 children, moderate - in 8 children and mild - in 6 children. Sleep endoscopy revealed that in most cases in unoperated children (about 70%), adenoids and palatine tonsils were the cause of obstruction. In the group of children, who previously underwent surgery for OSA, the causes of residual apnea more often were soft palate and palatine tonsils. In 5 of 8 children, tonsils pharyngoscopy size did not exceed the 1st degree. In 1 child after adenotonsillectomy, the hypertrophic tori tubarii were the cause of obstruction. Another rare cause of upper airway obstruction, lingual tonsil hypertrophy, was found in 2 primary patients. Sleep endoscopy is a safe and useful method that makes it possible to determine the level of obstruction in children and to plan the optimal amount of surgical treatment.