Incidence of children at risk for obstructive sleep apnea undergoing common day surgery procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in children undergoing elective day surgery procedures.

METHODS: A validated Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was distributed to the parents of children aged 2months to 18 years who met inclusion criteria and were undergoing urologic, otolaryngologic, and general surgical day surgery procedures a 3-month period of time. The prevalence of children at risk for pediatric SRBD was determined from PSQ results.

RESULTS: From a total of 288 PSQ Questionnaires, 9.1% of urology, 11.1% of general surgery, and 51.9% of otolaryngology patients admitted to day surgery were found to be at risk for sleep disordered breathing. The median PSQ score for the children at risk was 9.2 for urological surgeries, 10.9 for general surgery, and 11.3 for otolaryngological procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased prevalence of children at risk of SRBD awaiting common day surgery procedures than previously expected based on existing literature. Patients undergoing otolaryngological procedures were at greater risk of sleep-related breathing disorders when compared with patients undergoing urological or general surgical procedures. There may be a role for screening of pediatric patients with a PSQ prior to day-surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Type of study: prognosis study, level IV.