Development and validation of the international pediatric sleep endoscopy scale (IPSES).

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a consensus international pediatric sleep endoscopy scale (IPSES) for pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). METHODS: Existing published DISE ratings scales were reviewed in order to develop a consensus rating scale synthesizing the most common features and adding new elements to address areas of controversy. Samples of 30 de-identified DISE video recordings were reviewed to develop and refine the scale. After the consensus scale was defined, a separate sample of 25 de-identified DISE videos were scored with the new consensus scale by the development group and a panel of independent raters. A weighted kappa statistic was used to quantify the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the consensus scale at each anatomic level. RESULTS: Among all raters, intra-rater reliability was most variable for the nasal airway (kappa range 0.33-0.94) and best for the lateral oropharynx (kappa range 0.68-0.95). Inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.43 for the nasal airway to 0.57 at the soft palate. CONCLUSION: The IPSES is a reliable consensus scale that reflects the most common features of existing scales and can be adopted as a universal scoring scale for pediatric DISE.

Analysis of possible risk factors for the severity of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) percentile, asthma, sex, and age on the paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity. Furthermore, to determine the possible predictive role of the BMI percentile and age in severe OSA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 921 children aged 2-18 years diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), Spearman's correlation, Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analyses were performed and area under the curve (AUC) was determined. RESULTS: We observed a significant association between a higher BMI percentile and the severity of OSA (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.15). The correlation also was significant under (p = 0.007, ρ = 0.11) and over 7 (p = 0.0002, ρ = 0.23) years of age. There was no association between the severity of OSA and the presence of asthma (p = 0.9) or sex (p = 0.891), respectively. Age was significantly related to OSA severity (p = 0.01, ρ = 0.08). Although both the BMI percentile (0.59 AUC [0.54-0.65]) and age (0.58 AUC [0.52-0.63]) predicted severe OSA, according to the sensitivity and specificity values of the ROC curve, the association presents a slight clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS: OSA severity is determined by the BMI percentile and age in children; however, these factors are unsuitable for predicting severe OSA in clinical practice. Based on our results, obesity is also a significant risk factor for OSA in younger children. Our study highlights that older, overweight, and obese children have a higher risk for severe OSA.

International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus on scoring of pediatric Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE).

OBJECTIVES: To develop consensus statements for the scoring of pediatric drug induced sleep endoscopy in the diagnosis and management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: The leadership group identified experts based on defined criteria and invited 18 panelists to participate in the consensus statement development group. A modified Delphi process was used to formally quantify consensus from opinion. A modified Delphi priori process was established, which included a literature review, submission of statements by panelists, and an iterative process of voting to determine consensus. Voting was based on a 9-point Likert scale. Statements achieving a mean score greater than 7 with one or fewer outliers were defined as reaching consensus. Statements achieving a mean score greater than 6.5 with two or fewer outliers were defined as near consensus. Statements with lower scores or more outliers were defined as no consensus. RESULTS: A total of 78 consensus statements were evaluated by the panelists at the first survey - 49 achieved consensus, 18 achieved near consensus, and 11 did not achieve consensus. In the second survey, 16 statements reached consensus and 5 reached near consensus. Regarding scoring, consensus was achieved on the utilization of a 3-point Likert scale for each anatomic site for maximal observed obstructions of <50% (Score 0, no-obstruction), ≥ 50% but <90% (Score 2, partial obstruction), and ≥ 90% (Score 3, complete obstruction). Anatomic sites to be scored during DISE that reached consensus or near-consensus were the nasal passages, adenoid pad, velum, lateral pharyngeal walls, tonsils (if present), tongue base, epiglottis, and arytenoids. CONCLUSION: This study developed consensus statements on the scoring of DISE in pediatric otolaryngology using a modified Delphi process. The use of a priori process, literature review, and iterative voting method allowed for the formal quantification of consensus from expert opinion. The results of this study may provide guidance for standardizing scoring of DISE in pediatric patients.

[The efficacy of STOP-BANG questionnaire in screening of benign snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea]. / A STOP-BANG kérdoív hatékonysága a benignus horkolás és az enyhe obstruktív alvási apnoe kiszurésében.

INTRODUCTION: Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep-related breathing disorders. Respiratory pulse oximetry can be used for screening, and several pre-screening questionnaires are available to assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. STOP-BANG questionnaire is simple and effective according to the literature. OBJECTIVE: Investigating the effectiveness of the STOP-BANG questionnaire for screening benign snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea. METHOD: We analyzed the data of patients examined in our department for suspected sleep-related breathing disorder between 20. 06. 2021 and 19. 03. 2022. We compared the subsequently calculated STOP-BANG scores to the respiratory pulsoximetry results. Due to the lack of information regarding the intensity of snoring, the analysis was performed both with positive and negative results for this criterion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: We analyzed the data of 36 patients, one of them was examined twice due to weight loss. Benign snoring was confirmed by 19 patients, mild obstructive sleep apnea in 9, moderate in 4, and severe in 5 cases. Assuming loud snoring, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity 21%, the positive predictive value 29%, and the negative predictive value 100%. Assuming no loud snoring, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity 54%, the positive predictive value 41%, and the negative predictive value 100%. CONCLUSION: STOP-BANG questionnaire is effective, and can also be used in primary care to screen benign snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea. Unnecessary device tests can be reduced by using it, resulting in significantly shorter waiting times for the sleep tests for high-risk patients. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(7): 265-272.

Peritonsillar abscess: an 8-year retrospective, culture based evaluation of 208 cases.

Introduction. Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common infection which requires surgical intervention and suitable antibiotic therapy.Hypotheses/Gap Statement. Beside Streptococcus pyogenes and Fusobacterium necrophorum several other mostly anaerobic bacteria can be cultured from the properly taken pus samples of PTA, the clinical significance of which is still not fully understood.Aim. This study focused on the culture-based microbiological evaluation of PTA cases, compared to surgical intervention and empirical antibiotic management.Methodology. A retrospective analysis of PTA cases was performed between 2012 and 2019. Data about the aerobic and anaerobic culture results of the samples taken during different surgical interventions were summarized and the coverage of the empirically selected antibiotics was evaluated. The patient's history, the development of complications and the recurrence rate were also evaluated.Results. The microbiological culture results were available for 208 of 320 patients with clinically diagnosed PTA. Incision and drainage (I and D) and immediate tonsillectomy were the leading surgical interventions. Ninety-five Fusobacterium species (including 44 Fusobacterium necrophorum), 52 Actinomyces species and 47 Streptococcus pyogenes were obtained from PTA samples alone or together with polymicrobial flora. S. pyogenes (33.7 %, n=28) and F. necrophorum (22.9 %, n=19) were the dominating pathogens in the 83 monobacterial PTA samples. In >60 % of the patients polymicrobial infection was demonstrated, involving a great variety of anaerobic bacteria. In 22 out of 42 cases where intravenous cefuroxime was empirically started, the therapy should be changed to properly cover the culture-proven anaerobic flora. There were no serious complications, abscess recurrence was detected in two cases (0.96 %).Conclusion. PTAs are often polymicrobial infections including a great variety of anaerobes. Targeted antibiotic therapy, in conjunction with adequate surgical drainage eliminating the anaerobic milieu, can accelerate the healing process and radically reduce the complication and recurrence rate.

Increased behavioral problems in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND: Healthy sleep is essential for the cognitive, behavioral and emotional development of children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the behavioral consequences of sleep disturbances by examining children with sleep-disordered breathing compared with control participants. METHODS: Seventy-eight children with SDB (average age: 6.7 years (SD = 1.83); 61 had OSA and 17 had primary snoring) and 156 control subjects (average age: 6.57 years (SD = 1.46) participated in the study. We matched the groups in age (t(232) = 0.578, p = 0.564) and gender (χ2(1) = 2.192, p = 0.139). In the SDB group, the average Apnea-Hypopnea Index was 3.44 event/h (SD = 4.00), the average desaturation level was 87.37% (SD = 6.91). Parent-report rating scales were used to measure the children's daytime behavior including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Our results showed that children with SDB exhibited a higher level of inattentiveness and hyperactive behavior. Furthermore, the SDB group demonstrated more internalizing (anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, social problems) (p < 0.001) and externalizing (aggressive and rule-breaking behavior) problems compared with children without SDB, irrespective of severity. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings we supposed that snoring and mild OSA had a risk for developing behavioral and emotional dysfunctions as much as moderate-severe OSA. Therefore, clinical research and practice need to focus more on the accurate assessment and treatment of sleep disturbances in childhood, particularly primary snoring, and mild obstructive sleep apnea.

The risk of postoperative respiratory complications following adenotonsillar surgery in children with or without obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appears in 2%-5% of children, with first-line treatment being adenotonsillar (AT) surgery. Our aim was to examine the risk of postoperative respiratory complications (PoRCs) in non-OSA and the different OSA severity (mild, moderate, severe) groups. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing PoRCs following AT surgery in children with and without OSA. METHODS: Nineteen observational studies were identified with the same search key used in MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL. The connection between PoRCs, the presence and severity of OSA, and additional comorbidities were examined. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: We found that PoRCs appeared more frequently in moderate (p = 0.048, OR: 1.79, CI [1.004, 3.194]) and severe OSA (p = 0.002, OR: 4.06, CI [1.68, 9.81]) compared to non-OSA patients. No significant difference was detected in the appearance of major complications (p = 0.200, OR: 2.14, CI [0.67, 6.86]) comparing OSA and non-OSA populations. No significant difference was observed in comorbidities (p = 0.669, OR: 1.29, CI [0.40, 4.14]) or in the distribution of PoRCs (p = 0.904, OR: 0.94, CI [0.36, 2.45]) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Uniform guidelines and a revision of postoperative monitoring are called for as children with moderate and severe OSA are more likely to develop PoRCs following AT surgery based on our results, but no significant difference was found in mild OSA. Furthermore, the presence of OSA alone is not associated with an increased risk of developing major complications.

Postoperative respiratory complications in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to prospectively assess the effect of comorbidities on the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications (PoRCs) after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) and whether otherwise healthy children need a higher level of postoperative monitoring. Methods: 577 children who had OSA and underwent adenotonsillectomy were enrolled. The effects of demographics, comorbidities and OSA on PoRCs were investigated with logistic regression analysis. Results: The PoRC rate was 4.3%. Postoperative oxygen desaturations were more marked in patients with comorbidities (p = 0.005). The presence of comorbidity increased the risk of PoRCs (odds ratio 4.234/3.226-5.241, 95% confidence intervals, p < 0.001). There was no difference in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) values between comorbid patients with and without PoRCs [8.2 (3.8-50.2) vs 14.3 (11.7-23.3)]. (p = 0.37). In the group of patients without comorbidities, PoRCs were associated with a higher AHI [14.7 (3.4-51.3) vs 3.9 (2.0- 8.0), p < 0.001]. Conclusions: Comorbidities are more closely linked with PoRCs than OSA severity. In patients without comorbidity, PoRCs are associated with OSA severity and usually occur within the first 2 hours after the intervention.

Personalised positive-pressure ventilation in cystic fibrosis / Személyre szabott, pozitív nyomású légzésterápia cystás fibrosisban.

Összefoglaló. A cystás fibrosis az egyik leggyakoribb veleszületett genetikai rendellenesség, elofordulása Magyarországon 1:4000. Az érintett szervekben a mirigyek által termelt nyák emelkedett viszkozitása krónikus gyulladáshoz vezet. A progressziót a pulmonalis folyamat határozza meg, súlyos esetben a tüdotranszplantáció az egyetlen megoldás. A betegek instabil állapota és a hosszú várólista miatt a megfelelo elokészítés kihívásokkal teli, a mutét sokszor sikertelen. A szerzok egy eset segítségével ismertetik a személyre szabott, pozitív nyomású légzésterápia szerepét a transzplantációra való elokészítésben cystás fibrosisban. A 13 éves serdülot csecsemokorában történt jobb tüdocsúcs-reszekciót, majd verejtékvizsgálatot és genetikai tipizálást követoen 8 hónapos korától gondoztuk a Heim Pál Országos Gyermekgyógyászati Intézetben cystás fibrosissal. Fokozatosan romló klinikai állapota miatt 11 éves korától otthoni oxigénterápiát igényelt, 13 éves korára tüdotranszplantáció vált szükségessé. A transzplantációig a légzési munka könnyítése érdekében noninvazív lélegeztetést kezdtünk, melyet a beteg nem tolerált. A rapidan romló általános állapot és légzésfunkció, az inhalatív és szisztémás kezelés ellenére is fennálló folyamatos oxigénigény és jelentos nehézlégzés javítása céljából személyre szabott, pozitív nyomású légzésterápia beállítása történt. Ennek eredményeként 4 vízcentiméteres nyomáson 1 liter/perc oxigén adása mellett a teljes alvásido 100%-a 90% fölötti oxigénszaturációval telt. A kezelést a gyermek jól turte, éjszakái nyugodtabban teltek, általános állapota és légzésfunkciója javult, majd sikeres tüdotranszplantáción esett át. A személyre szabott, pozitív nyomású légzésterápia javítja a cystás fibrosisban szenvedo gyermekek általános állapotát és légzésfunkcióját, ezáltal megkönnyíti a beteg tüdotranszplantáció elotti felkészülését, és növeli a mutét sikerességének esélyét. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(19): 760-765. Summary. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common hereditary genetic disorders, the appearance rate of which in the Hungarian population is 1:4000. The increased viscosity of mucus leads to chronic inflammation in the affected organs. The pulmonary manifestation defines the progression, in severe cases lung transplantation is needed. Unstable health condition can make the preparation for surgery difficult and unsuccessful. The role of personalised positive airway pressure therapy prior to lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis is presented through a case report. The 13-year-old child was treated at Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute from the age of 8 months with cystic fibrosis after pulmonary lobectomy, followed by sweat chlorid- and genetic testing. The significant impairment of his general condition required oxygen therapy from the age of 11 years and lung transplantation at the age of 13 years. Until lung transplantation, to relieve the respiratory distress, noninvasive ventilation was started, without success. Considering the rapid progression and persistent need for oxygen - despite inhalation and systemic treatment - personalised positive airway pressure therapy was indicated. At the pressure of 4 cmH2O and an oxygen flow rate of 1 l/min, oxygen saturation was higher than 90% during 100% of the total sleep time. Improvement was registered in both general condition and respiratory function, followed by a successful lung transplantation. In patients with cystic fibrosis, personalized positive airway pressure therapy improves respiratory function, general condition and elevates the success rate of lung transplantation. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(19): 760-765.

Recognizing Early Regulation Disorders in Pediatric Care: The For Healthy Offspring Project.

BACKGROUND Regulation disorders are already apparent in infancy. The For Healthy Offspring Project was the first Hungarian study aimed at building an effective model for screening and examining the prevalence and complex (medical and psychosocial) background of classic behavior regulation disorders (excessive crying, feeding, and sleep problems) in infancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data were collected from families of 0- to 3-year-old children in a pediatric hospital and its neighboring areas through questionnaires, medical examinations, and individual and small-group consultations. RESULTS In the questionnaire study about their children's behavior (n=1133), 15% of mothers reported excessive crying, 16% reported feeding problems, and 10% reported sleep problems. In a subsample (n=619) in which medical examinations were also conducted, the prevalence of medical diagnoses was 15.0% for excessive crying, 15.2% for sleep disorders, 10.3% for breastfeeding difficulties, and 14.8% for feeding disorders. Children who were referred to the screening program (n=183) had significantly more behavior regulation disorders than the other children in our study. Regulation disorders were found to be comorbid with other health conditions in some cases. CONCLUSIONS We developed a complex model to screen for regulatory problems in early childhood. This study adds more information about the relationship between regulation problems and other health conditions. The general incidence (5-15%) of early childhood regulation disorders in other countries is likely similar to that found in Hungary. In order to effectively recognize early regulation disorders, diagnostic instruments widely used in the international field should be adapted in general Hungarian pediatric care.

Achondroplasia from the viewpoint of orthodontics / Az achondroplasia a fogszabályozás szemszögébol.

Összefoglaló. Az achondroplasia kialakulásáért az FGFR3-gén mutációja teheto felelossé, mely a porc növekedési lemezében található chondrocyták érésében okoz zavart. Az esetbemutatásban szereplo lánygyermeknél a születést követo elso hónapban a klinikai, laboratóriumi és röntgenvizsgálatok alapján achondroplasia igazolódott. A klinikai tünetek közé tartoznak a rövid végtagok - különösen a proximalis szegmensben -, a macrocephalia, a hypotonia és a horkolás. Szembetuno a középarc hypoplasiája. A középfül diszfunkciója tovább súlyosbítja a kórképet, sok esetben megfigyelheto a hallás nagyfokú csökkenése, illetve kezelés hiányában akár a hallás elvesztése. A közlemény részletesen bemutatja az obstruktív alvási apnoe szindróma diagnózisrendszerét és kezelési alternatíváit, hangsúlyozva az orthodontiai szempontokat. A fül-orr-gégészeti és a fogszabályozó terápiának köszönhetoen, a diagnózistól számított harmadik évre, az alvási apnoe szindróma megszüntetésével a folyamatos pozitív nyomású lélegeztetést el lehetett hagyni. A horkolás és az alvási apnoe szindróma kezelése napjainkban egyre nagyobb hangsúlyt kap, melynek komplex kezelésében a fogszabályozás is jelentos lehet. A harmonikus együttmuködés és teamkezelés betegünknél jelentos életminoség-javulást eredményezett. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 683-688. Summary. Development of achondroplasia is due to the mutation of FGFR3 gene, which disrupts the maturation of chondrocytes found in the growth plate. The diagnosis of the girl in the present case study was established based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and X-ray imaging in the first month following childbirth. Clinical symptoms include shorter limbs especially in the proximal segments, macrocephaly, hypotonia and snoring. Hypoplasia of the midface is apparent. Dysfunction of the middle ear further worsens the condition, in many cases severe hearing loss and, without treatment, even deafness can be observed. The publication describes the diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in detail, with an emphasis on the orthodontic aspects. A comprehensive combined three-year oto-laryngological and orthodontic treatment finally succeeded in controlling the sleep apnea syndrome and it was possible to discontinue the continuous positive airway pressure therapy by the end of the orthodontic therapy. Nowadays, even more alternative therapeutic approaches are available to treat snoring and sleep apnea syndromes, in which the role of orthodontics must not be neglected. Harmonic collaboration and team work treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of life of our patient. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 683-688.

Tonsillectomia versus tonsillotomia / Tonsillectomia versus tonsillotomia.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés és célkituzés: A szerzok a posztoperatív fájdalom és a sebgyógyulás tekintetében prospektív vizsgálattal hasonlították össze gyermekeken (67 fo, 1-12 év) a hagyományos hidegeszközzel történo extracapsularis tonsillectomiát (23 fo) a microdebriderrel (23 fo) és a coblatorral (21 fo) végzett intracapsularis tonsillotomiával. Módszer: A vizsgálatok a betegek által kitöltött kérdoívek, valamint prospektív klinikai adatgyujtés alapján történtek. Eredmények: Az intracapsularis tonsillotomia gyógyulási idejét 50%-kal rövidebbnek találtuk, és az elso 13 napban szignifikánsan kevesebb fájdalommal és fájdalomcsillapító igénnyel járt, mint az extracapsularis tonsillectomia eseteiben. A tonsillotomiás csoporton belül egyedül a posztoperatív elso napi fájdalom tekintetében észleltünk szignifikáns különbséget a két különbözo módszer között a coblator javára (p<0,05). A vizsgálatokat retrospektív áttekintéssel is kiegészítettük, 4 évi gyermek- (1-15 éves) tonsillamutéten átesett beteganyagunk (1487 fo) eredményeinek feldolgozásával. Tonsillectomia (1253 fo) után 7,7%-os utóvérzési arányt észleltünk, mutéti vérzéscsillapításra 1,3%-ban volt szükség. Tonsillotomia esetén (234 fo) 0,43%-os utóvérzési arányt regisztráltunk. Ebben a csoportban vérzés miatt nem, de 2 esetben ismételt obstrukciót okozó hypertrophia, 1 esetben góctünetek miatt reoperációt végeztünk (1,28%). Következtetés: Eredményeiket a szerzok a nemzetközi ajánlások tükrében elemezték. Az intracapsularis tonsillotomia kisebb fájdalommal, kisebb vérzéssel és kisebb megterheléssel jár. A közösségbe való aktív visszatérés akár egy hét után lehetséges a tonsillectomiára jellemzo 3 héttel szemben, mindez jelentos szocioökonómiai elonyökkel járhat. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(45): 1920-1926. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Examining operated children in this prostective study inditerscompared (67 pts, 1-12 yrs) the extracapsular tonsillectomy with conventional cold-knife (23 pts) to extracapsular tonsillotomy with microdebrider (23 pts) and coblator (21 pts) for postoperative pain and wound-healing disorders. METHOD: The study was based on patient-completed questionnaires as well as prospective clinical data collection. RESULTS: The recovery time of intracapsular tonsillotomy was found less than 50%, with less pain than in the cases of extracapsular tonsillectomy. Postoperative pain was significantly less in the tonsillototomy group than the tonsillectomy group. Within the tonsillotomy group, a significant difference was observed between the two different methods in favor of the coblator for only the postoperative first-day pain. The studies were supplemented with a retrospective review by processing the 4 yrs results of their pediatric (1-15-yrs) patients who underwent tonsillectomy (1487 pts). After tonsillectomy (1253 pts), a postoperative bleeding rate of 7.7% was observed, and surgical hemostasis was required in 1.3%. In the case of tonsillotomy (234 pts), a postoperative bleeding rate of 0.43% was recorded. In this group, reoperation was not performed due to bleeding, whereas it was neccesary in 2 cases due to hypertrophy causing repeated obstruction, in 1 case due by virtue of focal symptomes (1.28%). CONCLUSION: Our results were analyzed on the basis of international recommendations. Intracapsular tonsillotomy is associated with less pain, less bleeding, and less strain. Active return to the community is possible after up to a week compared to the 3 weeks typical of tonsillectomy, all of which can have significant socioeconomic benefits. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(45): 1920-1926.

International Pediatric Otolaryngology group (IPOG) consensus on the diagnosis and management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

OBJECTIVE: To develop an expert-based consensus of recommendations for the diagnosis and management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: A two-iterative Delphi method questionnaire was used to formulate expert recommendations by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). RESULTS: Twenty-six members completed the survey. Consensus recommendations (>90% agreement) are formulated for 15 different items related to the clinical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, postoperative management and follow-up of children with OSA. CONCLUSION: The recommendations formulated in this IPOG consensus statement may be used along with existing clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of care and to reduce variation in care for children with OSA.

Declarative and Non-declarative Memory Consolidation in Children with Sleep Disorder.

Healthy sleep is essential in children's cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development. However, remarkably little is known about the influence of sleep disorders on different memory processes in childhood. Such data could give us a deeper insight into the effect of sleep on the developing brain and memory functions and how the relationship between sleep and memory changes from childhood to adulthood. In the present study we examined the effect of sleep disorder on declarative and non-declarative memory consolidation by testing children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) which is characterized by disrupted sleep structure. We used a story recall task to measure declarative memory and Alternating Serial Reaction time (ASRT) task to assess non-declarative memory. This task enables us to measure two aspects of non-declarative memory, namely general motor skill learning and sequence-specific learning. There were two sessions: a learning phase and a testing phase, separated by a 12 h offline period with sleep. Our data showed that children with SDB exhibited a generally lower declarative memory performance both in the learning and testing phase; however, both the SDB and control groups exhibited retention of the previously recalled items after the offline period. Here we showed intact non-declarative consolidation in SDB group in both sequence-specific and general motor skill. These findings suggest that sleep disorders in childhood have a differential effect on different memory processes (online vs. offline) and give us insight into how sleep disturbances affects developing brain.

Evening and morning exhaled volatile compound patterns are different in obstructive sleep apnoea assessed with electronic nose.

PURPOSE: Electronic noses represent a technique for the measurement of exhaled breath volatile compound pattern which can discriminate patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from control subjects. Although overnight changes in circulating biomarkers were reported, this effect on the exhaled volatile compound pattern has not been studied before. We aimed to compare breath patterns in the evening and in the morning in patients with OSA and to study the ability of the electronic nose to distinguish patients from controls based on these exhaled volatile patterns. METHODS: Exhaled breath volatile compound pattern was measured before and after night in 26 patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing (53 ± 15 years) who underwent polysomnography and in ten control subjects (37 ± 15 years), by whom sleep-disordered breathing was excluded with a home apnoea screening device. Breath measurements were also performed in the morning in 26 healthy, non-smoking age-matched controls (48 ± 10 years) with no complaints about disturbed sleep. Exhaled volatile compound pattern was processed with a Cyranose 320 electronic nose, and principal component analysis was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Exhaled volatile compound patterns recorded in the evening and in the morning were different in patients with OSA (p = 0.01) but not in non-OSA habitual snorers (p = 0.49) or in control subjects (p = 0.23). The electronic nose distinguished patients with OSA from control subjects based on the breath samples collected in the morning (p < 0.001, classification accuracy 77 %) but not in the evening (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Evening and morning exhaled volatile compound patterns are different in OSA. This might affect the ability of electronic noses to identify this disorder. Overnight alterations in volatile substances need to be taken into account during exhaled breath measurements in OSA.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Children with Two Intracapsular Tonsillotomy Techniques and a Standard Tonsillectomy: Microdebrider and radiofrequency tonsillotomies versus standard tonsillectomies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the duration and severity of postoperative pain for two different tonsillotomy techniques (radiofrequency [RF] and microdebrider [MD]) with the standard tonsillectomy. METHODS: This non-randomised retrospective study, carried out from February 2011 to September 2012, investigated 128 children in two independent centres: Heim Pál Children's Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, and Muscat Private Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Those undergoing conventional tonsillectomies acted as the control group. One centre tested the MD technique (n = 28) while the other centre tested the RF technique (n = 31). RESULTS: The pain-free period after the tonsillotomies was similar between the two techniques and ranged up to three days. Other indicators of pain resolution, like the use of a single analgesic, reduced night-time waking and the time taken to resume a normal diet, were also similar for the two groups. However, patients benefited significantly from having a tonsillotomy rather than a tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: The partial resectioning of tonsillar tissue using the MD and RF techniques showed promising outcomes for a better postoperative quality of life when compared to a traditional tonsillectomy. In this study, the results of both the MD and RF tonsillotomy methods were almost identical in terms of the duration of postoperative pain and recovery time.

[Postoperative monitoring of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. / Obstruktív alvási apnoe szindrómában szenvedo gyermekek posztoperatív monitorozása.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is surgical. The incidence of postoperative respiratory complications in this population is 5-25%. AIM: The aim of the authors was to present the preoperative evaluation and monitoring procedure elaborated in Heim Pál Children Hospital, Budapest. METHOD: 142 patients were involved in the study. Patient history was obtained and physical examination was performed in all cases. Thereafter, polysomnography was carried out, the severity of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was determined, and the patients underwent tonsilloadenotomy. RESULTS: 45 patients with mild, 50 patients with moderate and 47 patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were diagnosed. There was no complication in patients with mild disease, while complications were observed in 6 patients in the moderate group and 24 patients in the severe group (desaturation, apnea, stridor, stop breathing) (p<0.000). In patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, no significant difference was noted in preoperative apnoea-hypapnea index (p = 0.23) and in nadir oxygen saturation values (p = 0.73) between patients with and without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome should be treated in hospital where pediatric intensive care unit is available.

Sleep disorder in childhood impairs declarative but not nondeclarative forms of learning.

A large amount of studies have investigated the association between sleep and memory systems. However, remarkably little is known of the effect of sleep disorders on declarative and nondeclarative memory for children. In the present study we examined the effects of sleep disorders on different aspects of memory functions by testing children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which is characterized by disrupted sleep patterns. We used "The War of the Ghosts" test to measure declarative memory and the Alternating Serial Reaction Time (ASRT) task. This enabled us to measure two aspects of nondeclarative memory--general skill learning and sequence-specific learning--separately. Ten children with SDB and 10 healthy controls participated in this study. Our data showed dissociation between declarative and nondeclarative memory in children with SDB. They showed impaired declarative memory, while the sequence-specific and general skill learning was similar to that of healthy controls, in spite of sleep disruption. Our findings suggest that sleep-disordered breathing affects declarative and nondeclarative memory differently in children. Moreover, these findings imply that the disrupted sleep pattern influences the more attention-demanding and cortical structure-guided explicit processes, while the less attention-demanding implicit processes mediated by subcortical structures are preserved.

Exhaled biomarker pattern is altered in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder in children, which is associated with enhanced inflammatory status. Inflammation-associated changes could be monitored by the assessment of exhaled biomarker profile. This study aimed to compare the exhaled biomarker profile in children with OSAS and habitual snorers. METHODS: Eighteen children with OSAS (8 ± 2 years, mean ± SD) and ten non-OSAS subjects with habitual snoring (9 ± 2 years) were recruited. Exhaled breath was collected from the lower airways, processed using an electronic nose (E-nose) and analyzed off-line using principal component analysis, followed by discrimination analysis and logistic regression to build a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Exhaled biomarker pattern of OSAS patients was discriminated from that of control subjects (p = 0.03, cross-validation accuracy: 64%), ROC curve analysis (area: 0.83) showed 78% sensitivity and 70% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The altered exhaled biomarker pattern in OSAS might reflect accelerated airway and/or systemic inflammation in diseased state. Breath pattern analysis by an E-nose can serve as a new tool to monitor inflammation in children with OSAS.