Normalization of breathing with adenotonsillectomy in Japanese pediatric OSA.

OBJECTIVE: Since reports on surgical results for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Japan are insufficient for debate, this study aimed to evaluate the feature of Japanese OSA children and surgical result and document whether is obesity and affecting factor similar to non-Asian countries.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study. A total of 242 children with OSA at the Department of Otolaryngology and the Good Sleep Center, Nagoya City University Hospital and the Toyohashi Mates Sleep Disorders Center were included in the study. All children underwent pre- and postsurgical polysomnography. OSA was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) 5 or greater. Pre- and postsurgical respiratory parameters were compared using paired T test.

RESULTS: Normalization of breathing after surgery for OSA children was 40% with AHI < 2 and 85% with AHI < 5. Japanese OSA children are not as obese as OSA children in many non-Asian countries. However, the normalization of breathing as a result of surgery in Japanese OSA children does not differ much from non-Asian countries.

CONCLUSION: Japanese pediatric OSA that is not normalized by surgery may be affected by factors other than obesity.