Four-year-old girl with Goldenhar-sequence and severe obstructive sleep apnea, symptoms, diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Recently sleep related breathing disorders in children have received considerable attention. Unfortunately, cardiorespiratory polygraphy is expensive and time-consuming, and up until now today only a few pediatric hospitals have complete facilities for all-night cardiorespiratory polygraphy. Nevertheless, the prevalence of sleep related breathing disorders in children is higher than has previously been thought. To show the importance of proper diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders, we report a case of a 4-year-old girl with severe obstructive sleep apnea caused by Goldenhar-sequence (facio-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia). Despite some treatment efforts to correct the aplastic right mandible, the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea were not immediately recognized and remained untreated. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea led to growth and mental retardation. After polygraphic confirmation of obstructive sleep apnea and appropriate interdisciplinary treatment, the 4-year-old girl made rapid advances in growth and mental development.