Role of paediatric intensive care following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea: criteria for elective admission.

AIMS: This study aimed to critically review our criteria for elective admission to the paediatric intensive care unit following adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 122 children electively admitted between 1997 and 2011. During this time, our criteria for admission evolved.

RESULTS: In these 122 children, the respiratory disturbance index during rapid eye movement sleep ranged from 6 to 159 (mean, 83). Forty-one per cent of the children had a recognised co-morbidity. Nine children required extra intervention, i.e. in addition to re-positioning and/or supplemental oxygen. One child was an unplanned re-admission after discharge from the paediatric intensive care unit. Over the same period, five children required unplanned transfers into the paediatric intensive care unit following adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing.

CONCLUSION: Based upon these results, we describe our current criteria for elective admission to the paediatric intensive care unit following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea.