Treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
- Author:
Tae Kyung KOH
1
;
Jooyeon KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review article
- From:Kosin Medical Journal 2024;39(2):89-93
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:EN
- Abstract: In the majority of cases, pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Therefore, adenotonsillectomy is typically considered as the first line of treatment. However, the severity of pediatric OSA is not always directly correlated with the size of the adenoids and tonsils. Other factors, such as upper airway anatomy or obesity, may interact in a multifactorial manner to contribute to its occurrence. For these reasons, sleep apnea in obese children may resemble the condition in adults. Furthermore, in these cases, if adenotonsillar hypertrophy is present, adenotonsillectomy is likely to be prioritized. Reevaluation should be conducted 6 to 8 weeks post-surgery, and additional treatment for residual sleep apnea should be performed thereafter when necessary.
