Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Role of upper airway evaluation in the multidisciplinary management of obstructive sleep apnea in children below 2 years of age.
  • +5
  • An Boudewyns,
  • Blancke H,
  • Platteau C,
  • Slosse E,
  • Stijn Verhulst,
  • Sophie Installe,
  • Jouret Nathalie,
  • Kim Van Hoorenbeeck
An Boudewyns
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Blancke H
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen
Author Profile
Platteau C
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen
Author Profile
Slosse E
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen
Author Profile
Stijn Verhulst
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen
Author Profile
Sophie Installe
Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen
Author Profile
Jouret Nathalie
Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen
Author Profile
Kim Van Hoorenbeeck
Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen
Author Profile

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants and young children is challenging because of its clinical heterogeneity and lack of age-specific guidelines. Aim: We report the management and treatment outcome of OSA in children below two years of age. Treatment decisions were based upon the pattern of upper airway (UA) obstruction, clinical presentation and OSA severity. Methods: Retrospective, non-randomized observational cohort study at a tertiary center. Children with OSA who underwent an UA evaluation (drug-induced sleep endoscopy or direct laryngoscopy) were included. Results: The study population comprised 100 patients, 57 boys and 43 girls, with a median age of 0.72 years (range 0.0-2.0) and OSA confirmed by polysomnography. Multilevel UA collapse was present in 26%, (adeno)tonsillar hypertrophy in 31% and 21% had laryngomalacia. Laryngomalacia was more common in children below six months of age and adenotonsillar hypertrophy was observed mainly in children older than 1.5 year of age. Treatment improved OSA severity in the entire study population with a significant reduction in obstructive apnea/hypopnea index from 10.8/h (range 2.1-99.1) to 1.7/h (range 0.0-73.0) (p<0.001), an improvement in mean oxygen saturation from 96.9% (range 88.9-98.4) to 97.4% (range 92.3-99.0) (p<0.001) and in minimal oxygen saturation from 85.4% (range 37.0-96.0) to 88.8% (range 51.0-95.5) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Multidisciplinary management of young children with OSA guided by the pattern of UA obstruction and OSA severity, results in favorable treatment outcomes. The pattern of UA obstruction changes in the first two years of life from a dynamic collapse to structural abnormalities.
Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
08 Feb 20241st Revision Received
08 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Accept