OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children.

METHODSSixty children with OSAS were reviewed, every patient was monitored with polysomnography (PSG) for 7 hours at night for 11 parameters, including the longest apnea time (LAT), apnea and hypopnea index (AHI), the lowest oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), and snore index etc., the parameters of the 2 groups were compared. Meanwhile, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were performed for 40 cases of OSAS, and the parameters obtained before and after operation were analyzed.

RESULTSAdenotonsillar hypertrophy and the loud snoring during sleep were found in all cases. The mean values of the PSG parameters were as follows: the longest apnea time was 53 (8-178) seconds (s); the total time of apnea was 310.5 (26-5,260) s; the time of apnea was 26 (3-240) s; the longest hypopnea time was 41 (5-94) s; the total times of hypopnea was 170 (5-2,860) s; the time of hypopnea was 10 (1-85); the apnea index was 4.1 (0.5-25.9); the hypopnea index was 1.4 (0-16.1); the apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) was 6.8 (0.5-38.2); the snore index was 81.7 (1.3-414.8); the lowest saturation of oxygen was 0.78 (0.25-0.93). There was not statistically significant difference in the parameters between 2-7 year group and over 7 year group (P > 0.05). The parameters of postoperation group: the mean value of the longest apnea time was 15.5 (0-60) s; the total time of apnea was 56.4 (60-205) s; the time of apnea was 10.33 (0-40); the longest hypopnea time was 13.25 (0-30) s; the total times of hypopnea was 44.6 (0-73); the hypopnea time was 4.32 (0 - 30) s; the apnea index was 0.6 (0-12); the hypopnea index was 0.62 (0-4); the apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) was 1.25 (0.1-12); the snore index was 30.08 (1.8-102); the lowest oxygen saturation was 93.5% (64%-97%). Compared with preoperation groups there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01). Clinically effective rate of the surgeries was over 90%.

CONCLUSIONAdenotonsillar hypertrophy seemed to be an important cause of OSAS in children. Snoring, dyspnea, apnea and low ventilation are the major clinical characteristics of OSAS in children. Confirmed diagnosis of the syndrome in children requires PSG recordings.