Management of Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea after Adenotonsillectomy

Abstract

Adenotonsillectomy is widely considered to be an effective treatment for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the pediatric population. However, in some patients, SDB and OSA can persist despite surgical treatment with adenotonsillectomy. Options to manage persistent SDB/OSA depend on symptoms and severity. Many patients with mild residual OSA can be managed with nasal steroids and observed. Those with more moderate-to-severe residual pathology often can be managed with conservative measures that usually include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. However, some patients cannot tolerate CPAP, and are therefore candidates to be evaluated for addition surgical therapies. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(5):e180-e183.].