Recent advances in paediatric sleep disordered breathing

Abstract

This article reviews the latest evidence pertaining to childhood sleep disordered breathing (SDB), which is associated with negative neurobehavioural, cardiovascular and growth outcomes. Polysomnography is the accepted gold standard for diagnosing SDB but is expensive and limited to specialist centres. Simpler tests such as cardiorespiratory polygraphy and pulse oximetry are probably sufficient for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in typically developing children, and new data-processing techniques may improve their accuracy. Adenotonsillectomy is the first-line treatment for OSA, with recent evidence showing that intracapsular tonsillectomy results in lower rates of adverse events than traditional techniques. Anti-inflammatory medication and positive airway pressure respiratory support are not always suitable or successful, although weight loss and hypoglossal nerve stimulation may help in select comorbid conditions.

Educational aims: 

· To understand the clinical impact of childhood sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

· To understand that, while sleep laboratory polysomnography has been the gold standard for diagnosis of SDB, other diagnostic techniques exist with their own benefits and limitations.

· To recognise that adenotonsillectomy and positive pressure respiratory support are the mainstays of treating childhood SDB, but different approaches may be indicated in certain patient groups.

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