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New Options in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

  • Sleep Apnea (B Rotenberg, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To describe the current literature pertaining to the evaluation and management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children.

Recent Findings

Newer diagnostic modalities, such as drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and cine MRI, may be utilized to determine anatomic locations of upper airway obstruction contributing to OSA. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments have been studied as primary therapy for OSA or as adjuvant therapy for residual disease after adenotonsillectomy. Surgical therapy for persistent moderate to severe OSA following adenotonsillectomy may be considered for patients who are intolerant of or noncompliant with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and tailored to pertinent anatomic sites of upper airway obstruction.

Summary

The current body of literature emphasizes evaluation and management for children with recurrent or persistent OSA after adenotonsillectomy. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of various pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical therapies.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC# 2018, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Philip D. Knollman, Aimee A. Kennedy & Stacey L. Ishman

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Stacey L. Ishman

  3. Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Stacey L. Ishman

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  1. Philip D. Knollman
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  2. Aimee A. Kennedy
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Correspondence to Stacey L. Ishman.

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Philip D. Knollman and Aimee A. Kennedy declare that they have no conflict of interest. Dr. Ishman reports consulting fees from Genus Life Science.

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Knollman, P.D., Kennedy, A.A. & Ishman, S.L. New Options in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 7, 187–194 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-019-00245-x

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