The impact of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea on ambulatory surgery
Authors:
Karen A. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia, The Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, 2300 Tupper Street, Montreal, Que., Canada H3H 1P3
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to review pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with an emphasis on ambulatory adenotonsillectomy. Difficulties in establishing a diagnosis by clinical criteria alone are discussed. Diagnostic tests to establish a diagnosis of OSAS are discussed. The child with severe obstructive sleep apnea is at increased risk for post-adenotonsillectomy respiratory morbidity. The perioperative management with a focus on the ambulatory candidate is discussed.
The child with OSAS presents a challenge to ambulatory surgery because of the high prevalence of OSAS, difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of OSAS and the increased risk of respiratory morbidity.