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Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Objectives:

  1. Recognize the signs and symptoms of a sleep-related breathing disorder.
  2. Understand what polysomnography (PSG) entails and how it identifies obstructive vs central apnea. Learn about other diagnostic modalities: i.e. drug-induced sleep endoscopy.
  3. Learn about the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
  4. Understand the pathophysiology of OSA in the context of genetic disorders, neuromuscular disorders, skeletal disorders, and endocrine conditions.
  5. Learn about OSA medical treatments (intranasal steroids, montelukast), surgical management, and positive airway pressure therapies (e.g. CPAP/BiPAP).
  6. Appreciate the long-term consequences of OSA.
  7. Recognize the clinical features of central apnea hypoventilation syndromes (apnea of prematurity, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, ROHHAD).

Articles:

  • Excellent review article focusing on diagnosis: signs, symptoms, risk factors, utility of nocturnal PSG for diagnosis, and diagnostic alternatives (Objectives 1, 2) 
  • Overview of predisposing factors, diagnosis, treatment. (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
  • Article describing long-term consequences and complications of OSA
  • Great overview of polysomnography: discusses the indications, how to create a child-friendly environment for overnight PSG, as well as techniques & scoring (Objective 2) 
  • Extensive review discussing the validity and clinical utility of polysomnography in various pediatric populations (Objective 2)
  • High-Risk Populations: brief overview of common medical conditions that predispose patients to OSA (Objective 4)
  • Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD): discuss the components of breathing, and pathophysiology behind SDB in NMD. (Objective 4) 
  • Craniofacial syndromes with sleep-related breathing disorders: Discusses craniosynostosis, cleft lip/palate, and micrognathia, and the associated syndromes (i.e. Pierre Robin sequence, Treacher Collins, Stickler, Apert, Cruzon, Pfeiffer) (Objective 4)
  • Down syndrome: review of sleep issues, including behavioral components. Discusses risk factors including hypotonia, craniofacial features, and obesity. Difficulties administering overnight PSG in a patient with an intellectual disability, and alternative measures to diagnose. (Objective 4)
  • Overview of indications for positive airway pressure therapy in children, types of devices, & strategies to increase adherence (Objective 5) 
  • Review article from 2020 of all current treatment options (surgical and nonsurgical), as well as options for residual OSA post tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. (Objective 5)
    • Supplement 2020 Cochrane Review: montelukast and intranasal steroids for mild to moderate OSA. Found insufficient evidence for intranasal steroids, and short-term benefits of montelukast in non-obese otherwise healthy children. (Objective 5) 
  • CHAT trial 2013: the only RCT demonstrating the benefits of adenotonsillectomy over watchful waiting (Objective 5)
  • Central sleep apnea: nice table listing different etiologies and categorizing them; also discusses diagnosis, pathophysiology, & management including flow charts for decision-making (Objective 7) 
  • AAP 2012 Practice Guidelines: Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome 
  • Specific diseases/conditions:

Additional Resources: coming soon

Self-Assessment: coming soon