Management of Persistent, Post-adenotonsillectomy Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. Although adenotonsillectomy is first-line management for pediatric OSA, up to 40% of children may have persistent OSA. This document provides an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the management of children with persistent OSA. The target audience is clinicians, including physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals, caring for children with OSA. Methods: A multidisciplinary international panel of experts was convened to determine key unanswered questions regarding the management of persistent pediatric OSA. We conducted a systematic review of the relevant literature. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to rate the quality of evidence and the strength of the clinical recommendations. The panel members considered the strength of each recommendation and evaluated the benefits and risks of applying the intervention. In formulating the recommendations, the panel considered patient and caregiver values, the cost of care, and feasibility. Results: Recommendations were developed for six management options for persistent OSA. Conclusions: The panel developed recommendations for the management of persistent pediatric OSA based on limited evidence and expert opinion. Important areas for future research were identified for each recommendation.

Conservative management versus tonsillectomy in adults with recurrent acute tonsillitis in the UK (NATTINA): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is regularly performed in adults with acute tonsillitis, but with scarce evidence. A reduction in tonsillectomies has coincided with an increase in acute adult hospitalisation for tonsillitis complications. We aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of conservative management versus tonsillectomy in patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis. METHODS: This pragmatic multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 27 hospitals in the UK. Participants were adults aged 16 years or older who were newly referred to secondary care otolaryngology clinics with recurrent acute tonsillitis. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive tonsillectomy or conservative management using random permuted blocks of variable length. Stratification by recruiting centre and baseline symptom severity was assessed using the Tonsil Outcome Inventory-14 score (categories defined as mild 0-35, moderate 36-48, or severe 49-70). Participants in the tonsillectomy group received elective surgery to dissect the palatine tonsils within 8 weeks after random assignment and those in the conservative management group received standard non-surgical care during 24 months. The primary outcome was the number of sore throat days collected during 24 months after random assignment, reported once per week with a text message. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, 55284102. FINDINGS: Between May 11, 2015, and April 30, 2018, 4165 participants with recurrent acute tonsillitis were assessed for eligibility and 3712 were excluded. 453 eligible participants were randomly assigned (233 in the immediate tonsillectomy group vs 220 in the conservative management group). 429 (95%) patients were included in the primary ITT analysis (224 vs 205). The median age of participants was 23 years (IQR 19-30), with 355 (78%) females and 97 (21%) males. Most participants were White (407 [90%]). Participants in the immediate tonsillectomy group had fewer days of sore throat during 24 months than those in the conservative management group (median 23 days [IQR 11-46] vs 30 days [14-65]). After adjustment for site and baseline severity, the incident rate ratio of total sore throat days in the immediate tonsillectomy group (n=224) compared with the conservative management group (n=205) was 0·53 (95% CI 0·43 to 0·65; <0·0001). 191 adverse events in 90 (39%) of 231 participants were deemed related to tonsillectomy. The most common adverse event was bleeding (54 events in 44 [19%] participants). No deaths occurred during the study. INTERPRETATION: Compared with conservative management, immediate tonsillectomy is clinically effective and cost-effective in adults with recurrent acute tonsillitis. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research.

Paediatric pustulotic arthro-osteitis patient with an IL36RN variant, heterozygous c.115+6T>C, who was successfully treated with tonsillectomy: A case report and literature review.

Pustulotic arthro-osteitis (PAO) is an infrequent condition, with its manifestation in children being even rare. Some reports propose an association between genetic variants and the onset of PAO. Currently, no definitive treatment protocol exists for paediatric patients with PAO. In this study, we present the paediatric case of PAO with an IL36RN variant who was successfully treated with tonsillectomy.

Does Celecoxib Prescription for Pain Management Affect Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage Requiring Surgery? A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy (referred to as tonsillectomy hereafter) are common pediatric surgeries. Postoperative complications include hemorrhage requiring surgery (2 to 3% of cases) and pain. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly administered for postsurgical pain, controversy exists regarding bleeding risk with cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition and associated platelet dysfunction. Preliminary evidence suggests selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, for example celecoxib, effectively manage pain without adverse events including bleeding. Given the paucity of data for routine celecoxib use after tonsillectomy, this study was designed to investigate the association between postoperative celecoxib prescription and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery using chart-review data from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. METHODS: After ethics approval, a retrospective single-center observational cohort study was performed in children less than 18 yr of age undergoing tonsillectomy from January 2007 to December 2017. Cases of adenoidectomy alone were excluded due to low bleed rates. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery. The association between a celecoxib prescription and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery was estimated using inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity scores and using generalized estimating equations to accommodate clustering by surgeon. RESULTS: An initial patient cohort of 6,468 was identified, and 5,846 children with complete data were included in analyses. Median (interquartile range) age was 6.10 (4.40, 9.00) yr, and 46% were female. In the cohort, 28.1% (n = 1,644) were prescribed celecoxib. Among the 4,996 tonsillectomy patients, 1.7% (n = 86) experienced post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery. The proportion with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery among patients who had a tonsillectomy and were or were not prescribed celecoxib was 1.94% (30 of 1,548; 95% CI, 1.36 to 2.75) and 1.62% (56 of 3,448; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.10), respectively. Modeling did not identify an association between celecoxib prescription and increased odds of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery (odds ratio = 1.4; 95% CI, 0.85 to 2.31; P = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib does not significantly increase the odds of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery, after adjusting for covariates. This large pediatric cohort study of celecoxib administered after tonsillectomy provides compelling evidence for safety but requires confirmation with a multisite randomized controlled trial.

Single-dose Intraoperative Methadone for Pain Management in Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: More than 500,000 elective tonsillectomies are performed in U.S. children annually. Pain after pediatric tonsillectomy is common, often severe, and undertreated. There is no consensus on the optimal management of perioperative tonsillectomy pain. Methadone, with an elimination half-life of 1 to 2 days, has a longer duration of effect than short-duration opioids such as fentanyl. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the intraoperative use of methadone for pediatric tonsillectomy. It tested the hypothesis that methadone would result in less postoperative opioid use compared with short-duration opioids in children after tonsillectomy. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, parallel group trial in children (3 to 17 yr) undergoing tonsillectomy compared single-dose intravenous methadone (0.1 mg/kg then 0.15 mg/kg age-ideal body weight, in a dose escalation paradigm) versus as-needed short-duration opioid (fentanyl) controls. Opioid use, pain, and side effects were assessed in-hospital and 7 days postoperatively via electronic surveys. The primary outcome was total 7-day opioid use in oral morphine equivalents per kilogram (kg). Secondary outcomes were opioid use in the postanesthesia care unit, daily pain scores, and total number of 7-day opioid doses used. RESULTS: Data analysis included 60 children (20/group), age 5.9 ± 3.7 yr (mean ± SD; median, 4; range, 3 to 17). Total 7-day opioid use (oral morphine equivalents per kg median [interquartile range]) was 1.5 [1.2, 2.1] in controls, 0.9 [0.1, 1.4] after methadone 0.1 mg/kg (P = 0.045), and 0.5 [0, 1.4] after methadone 0.15 mg/kg (P = 0.023). Postanesthesia care unit opioid use (oral morphine equivalents per kg) in controls was 0.15 [0.1, 0.3], 0.04 [0, 0.1] after methadone 0.1 mg/kg (P = 0.061). and 0.0 [0, 0.1] after methadone 0.15 mg/kg (P = 0.021). Postoperative pain scores were not different between groups. No serious opioid-related adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This small initial study in children undergoing tonsillectomy found that single-dose intraoperative methadone at 0.15 mg/kg age ideal body weight was opioid-sparing compared with intermittent fentanyl.

Efficacy and safety of adenotonsillectomy in the management of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with Down syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly observed in children with Down syndrome (DS) and may affect their physical and psychological development. Currently, adenotonsillectomy is the first line treatment option for paediatric patients with OSA. However, surgical outcomes for such patients are not satisfactory. In this study, we analysed the efficacy and safety of adenotonsillectomy in the treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea and Down syndrome. We systematically searched the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases and pooled data from nine relevant studies involving 384 participants. Subsequently, we analysed four outcomes in polysomnography, namely: net postoperative changes in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the minimum oxygen saturation, sleep efficiency, and arousal index. Meta-analysis of the AHI showed a decrease of 7.18 events/h [95% CI (-9.69, -4.67) events/h; p < 0.00001] and an increase in the minimum oxygen saturation of 3.14% [95% CI (1.44, 4.84) %; p = 0.0003]. There was no significant increase in sleep efficiency [MD 1.69%, 95% CI (-0.59, 3.98) %; p = 0.15], but the arousal index significantly decreased by -3.21 events/hour [95% CI (-6.04, -0.38) events/h; p < 0.03]. In addition, the overall success rate was 16% (95% CI, 12%-21%) for postoperative AHI < 1 and 57% (95% CI, 51%-63%) for postoperative AHI <5. The postoperative complications recorded included airway obstruction and bleeding. This study demonstrated the efficacy of adenotonsillectomy as a treatment option for OSA. However, it is important to note that residual OSA and potential postoperative complications require further attention in future studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects the psychological and behavioural development of children-a case-control study.

This study aims to investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on paediatric psychological and behavioural abnormalities. A total of 1086 paediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea and 728 sample snoring controls were enrolled in the study. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea underwent bilateral tonsillectomy plus adenoidectomy or adenoidectomy alone. Repeated Autism Behaviour Checklist, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and Children's Depression Inventory were performed to assess the autism symptoms, anxiety level and depressive symptoms before and after surgery. The score of Autism Behaviour Checklist in preschool children with obstructive sleep apnea was higher than that in control. In school children with obstructive sleep apnea, the score of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale was also higher. School children with obstructive sleep apnea with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than that in control. The scores of Autism Behaviour Checklist, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and Children's Depression Inventory in the obstructive sleep apnea group after surgery were significantly lower than that before surgery. Our study showed that the score of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Children's Depression Inventory had a close correlation with the illness course and hypoxia duration. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Children's Depression Inventory scores are also closely associated with the Autism Behaviour Checklist score. These results suggest that obstructive sleep apnea may have a significant impact on autism symptoms, anxiety levels and depressive symptoms in children. We found that the longer the duration of the obstructive sleep apnea course and hypoxia, the greater the impact on anxiety level and depressive symptoms. The suspected autism symptoms, anxiety level and depressive symptoms in children with obstructive sleep apnea were also significantly correlated. Thus, early detection and timely treatment may often reverse the psychological and behavioural abnormalities caused by obstructive sleep apnea.

Positive end-expiratory pressure in chronic care of children with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) consists of the delivery of a constant positive pressure in the airways by means of a noninvasive interface aiming to maintain airway patency throughout the entire respiratory cycle. PEEP is increasingly used in the chronic care of children with anatomical or functional abnormalities of the upper airways to correct severe persistent obstructive sleep apnea despite optimal management which commonly includes adenotonsillectomy in young children. PEEP may be used at any age, due to improvements in equipment and interfaces. Criteria for CPAP/NIV initiation, optimal setting, follow-up and monitoring, as well as weaning criteria have been established by international experts, but validated criteria are lacking. As chronic PEEP is a highly specialised treatment, patients should be managed by an expert pediatric multidisciplinary team.

Measuring immediate surgical success in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Adenotonsillectomy is the most common indication for sleep-disordered breathing in children. Measuring pharyngeal closing pressures in anaesthetised children allows identification of severe obstructive sleep apnoea. This technique could help quantify immediate surgical impact and risk stratify postoperative treatment in these patients.

Care of the Pediatric Patient for Ambulatory Tonsillectomy With or Without Adenoidectomy: The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia Position Statement.

The landscape of ambulatory surgery is changing, and tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed nationally. The number of children undergoing tonsillectomy on an ambulatory basis continues to increase. The 2 most common indications for tonsillectomy are recurrent throat infections and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. The most frequent early complications after tonsillectomy are hemorrhage and ventilatory compromise. In areas lacking a dedicated children's hospital, these cases are managed by a nonpediatric specialized anesthesiologist and general otolaryngology surgeon. In response to requests from our members without pediatric fellowship training and/or who care for pediatric patients infrequently, the Pediatric Committee of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) developed a position statement with recommendations for the safe perioperative care of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy in freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities. This statement identifies children that are more likely to experience complications and to require additional dedicated provider time that is not conducive to the rapid pace and staffing ratios of many freestanding ambulatory centers with mixed adult and pediatric practices. The aim is to provide health care professionals with practical criteria and suggestions based on the best available evidence. When high-quality evidence is unavailable, we relied on group consensus from pediatric ambulatory specialists in the SAMBA Pediatric Committee. Consensus recommendations were presented to the Pediatric Committee of SAMBA.

Depression risk in chronic tonsillitis patients underwent tonsillectomy: a global federated health network analysis.

Background: Tonsillectomy is a common surgery in the US, with possible postoperative complications. While small studies indicate postoperative depressive symptoms may occur, large-scale evidence is lacking on the tonsillectomy-depression link. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX US collaborative network, offering de-identified electronic health data from 59 collaborative healthcare organizations (HCOs) in the United States. In this study, people being diagnosed of chronic tonsillitis between January 2005 and December 2017 were enrolled. Patients deceased, with previous record of cancers or psychiatric events before index date were excluded. 14,874 chronic tonsillitis patients undergoing tonsillectomy were propensity score matched 1:1 to controls for age, sex, and race. New-onset depression risks were evaluated over 5 years post-tonsillectomy and stratified by age and sex. Confounders were adjusted for including demographics, medications, comorbidities and socioeconomic statuses. Results: After matching, the difference of key baseline characteristics including age, sex, comedications status and obesity status was insignificant between tonsillectomy and non-tonsillectomy groups. Tonsillectomy had a 1.29 times higher 5-year depression risk versus matched controls (95% CI, 1.19-1.40), with elevated risks seen at 1 year (HR=1.51; 95% CI, 1.28-1.79) and 3 years (HR=1.30; 95% CI, 1.18-1.43). By stratifications, risks were increased for both males (HR=1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.57) and females (HR=1.30; 95% CI, 1.18-1.42), and significantly higher in ages 18-64 years (HR=1.37; 1.26-1.49), but no significance observed for those 65 years and older. After performing sensitivity analyses and applying washout periods of 6, 12, and 36 months, the outcome remained consistent with unadjusted results. Conclusion: This real-world analysis found tonsillectomy was associated with a 30% higher 5-year depression risk versus matched non-tonsillectomy patients with chronic tonsillitis. Further mechanistic research is needed to clarify the pathophysiologic association between depression and tonsillectomy. Depression is not commonly mentioned in the current post-tonsillectomy care realm; however, the outcome of our study emphasized the possibility of these suffering condition after operation. Attention to psychological impacts following tonsillectomy is warranted to support patient well-being, leading to better management of post-tonsillectomy individuals.

Bispectral Index versus the University of Michigan Sedation Scale in assessing sedation depth during pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bispectral Index (BIS) and University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS) were two commonly used methods of monitoring the sedation depth, but their correlation was not clear. The purpose of this study is to ascertain if BIS correlates with UMSS in determining the sedation level during pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). METHODS: One-hundred children, aged 36-143 months, with ASA I~II grade, were enrolled. They were subject to general anesthesia for an elective adenotonsillectomy. Two drug regimens were used. After UMSS ≥ 3, the sites of airway obstructions were located by checking the supraglottic airway structures with a fibrous laryngoscope. UMSS scores, BIS values, electromyography (EMG), and signal quality indices (SQIs) were recorded at the pre-medication and pre-DISE baseline (T0), 5 min subsequent to medication administration but prior to DISE initiation (T1), 1 min after DISE was initiated (T2), 1 min after DISE was completed (T3), 1 min subsequent to tracheal intubation (T4), 1 min following extubation (T5), and 30 min past extubation (T6). RESULTS: There were strong correlations between BIS monitor readings and UMSS scores for total and two regimens. Kappa values revealed moderate agreement between BIS and UMSS for total and two regimens. The agreement rates were 67.47% for the total, 61.43% for Regimen 1, and 73.42% for Regimen 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: BIS correlates with UMSS in determining the sedation level during pediatric DISE for two regimens. BIS might serve as an appropriate indicator of sedation intensity when UMSS could not be used.

Is there an OAHI or O2 nadir that predicts the need for preoperative echocardiogram prior to adenotonsillectomy for children with severe obstructive sleep apnea?

PURPOSE: To investigate threshold values for obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) and nadir oxygen saturation (NspO2) in children with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to identify children most appropriate for preoperative echocardiography. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective chart review was performed on children who underwent echocardiography and polysomnogram within a year. Children with severe OSA as defined by OAHI > 10 or NspO2 < 80% were included. Receiver operator curves and Youden's J index were used to assess the discriminatory ability and threshold values of OAHI and NspO2 for right heart strain (RHS) on echocardiography. RESULTS: A total of 173 prepubertal (< 10 years) children and 71 postpubertal (≥ 10 years) children of age were included. RHS was seen in 9 (5%) prepubertal children and 4 (6%) postpubertal children. In prepubertal children, OAHI and NspO2 were poor predictors of RHS (area under the curve [AUC] 0.53 [95%CI 0.45-0.61], p = 0.748; AUC 0.56 [95%CI 0.48-0.64], p = 0.609). In postpubertal children, threshold values of 55 events/hour and 69% were strong predictors for RHS (AUC 0.88 [95%CI 0.78-0.95], p < 0.001; AUC 0.92 [95%CI 0.83-0.97], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In children with severe OSA, evidence of RHS is low. Postpubertal children with OAHI > 55 and NspO2 < 69% appear most appropriate for echocardiography. Clinicians should weigh the risks and benefits of preoperative echocardiography for each child with these threshold values in mind.

Anaesthesia management of a patient with Bethlem Myopathy for elective tonsillectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Bethlem Myopathy is a collagen VI-related myopathy presenting as a rare hereditary muscular disorder with progressive muscular weakness and joint contractures. Despite its milder clinical course relative to other myopathies, anaesthetic management can be challenging. High arched palates and fixed flexion deformities may contribute to a difficult airway. A progressive decline in pulmonary function can present later into adulthood. This respiratory decline can carry secondary cardiovascular consequences due to the progressive nature of restrictive lung disease, including right sided heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. We describe a case of a male patient with Bethlem Myopathy undergoing anaesthesia, to contribute to the limited body of literature on this condition and enhance awareness and guidance amongst anaesthesiologists on approaching patients with this condition. This is the first case report within the literature of its kind. CASE PRESENTATION: This case details a 33-year-old male with Bethlem Myopathy undergoing tonsillectomy. Diagnosed in childhood following developmental delays, the patient had no prior anaesthetic exposure and no family history of anaesthetic complications. Anaesthetic induction was achieved without complications, avoiding depolarizing muscle relaxants and careful airway management. Extreme care was taken in patient positioning to prevent complications. The surgery proceeded without incident and muscle paralysis was reversed with Suggammadex, resulting in no adverse post-operative respiratory complications. The patient was discharged on the first post-operative day without any respiratory or cardiovascular compromise. CONCLUSIONS: Bethlem Myopathy, while often exhibiting a mild clinical course, can present anaesthetic challenges. Awareness of potential complications including a difficult airway, cardiovascular and respiratory implications as well as the need for specialised monitoring and positioning is crucial to ensure a safe peri-operative course.

Does heart rate variability using the Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation index identify postsurgical pain levels and emergence delirium in toddlers? A prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Children recovering from anesthesia commonly experience early postoperative negative behaviour, caused by pain and emergence delirium. Differentiating the two is challenging in young children. Perioperative pain influences the heart rate variability-derived Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation (NIPE) index and may also affect emergence delirium. We sought to investigate whether the perioperative NIPE index can discriminate between mild, moderate, or severe pain levels and can detect emergence delirium. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled children aged three years or younger undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy. The NIPE index, the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) score, and the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score were recorded in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The primary aim was to investigate the relationship between the postoperative NIPE index and postoperative pain severity. The secondary aims were to evaluate the association between the NIPE index and emergence delirium (PAED ≥ 10) and its delirium-specific (ED-I) and pain-specific (ED-II) components. RESULTS: Sixty-nine children were recruited. In the PACU, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) NIPE values in children experiencing moderate and severe pain were 50 (12) and 49 (14), respectively. These values were significantly lower than the mean (SD) value of 64 (13) observed in children with mild pain (mean difference moderate vs no/mild pain, -14; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17 to -11; P < 0.001, and mean difference severe vs no/mild pain, -17; 95% CI, -20 to -14; P < 0.001, respectively). The NIPE index was significantly lower in children experiencing pain-specific ED-II (mean [SD] NIPE instantaneous [NIPEi] for ED-II 49 [10] vs no ED-II 55 [13]; mean difference, -6; 95% CI, -11 to -2; P = 0.009). The NIPE index was unable to detect emergence delirium (mean [SD] NIPEi for ED, 54 [15] vs no ED, 51 [10]; mean difference, 3; 95% CI, -2 to 8; P = 0.23) or the delirium-specific component ED-I (mean [SD] NIPEi for ED-I, 55 [15] vs no ED-I, 51 [11]; mean difference, 4; 95% CI, 0 to 8; P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: The NIPE index can identify moderate and severe postoperative pain after adenotonsillectomy but not emergence delirium in children aged three years and younger. This discrimination can be valuable in the early postoperative phase when the differentiation between pain and emergence delirium is difficult. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04909060 ); first submitted 26 May 2021.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Les enfants qui se remettent d'une anesthésie font fréquemment preuve d'un comportement négatif en début de période postopératoire. Ce comportement est causé par la douleur et le délire d'émergence, mais il est difficile de les distinguer chez les jeunes enfants. La douleur périopératoire a un impact sur l'indice d'évaluation parasympathique du nouveau-né et du nourrisson (NIPE) dérivé de la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque et peut également affecter le délire d'émergence. Nous avons cherché à déterminer si l'indice NIPE périopératoire permettait de différencier des niveaux de douleur légers, modérés ou sévères et de détecter le délire d'émergence. MéTHODE: Cette étude observationnelle prospective a recruté des enfants de trois ans ou moins ayant bénéficié d'une adéno-amygdalectomie, d'une amygdalectomie ou d'une adénoïdectomie non urgente. L'indice NIPE, le score FLACC (Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) et le score PAED (Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium) ont été enregistrés en salle de réveil. L'objectif principal était d'étudier la relation entre l'indice NIPE postopératoire et la sévérité de la douleur postopératoire. Les objectifs secondaires étaient d'évaluer l'association entre l'indice NIPE et le délire d'émergence (PAED ≥ 10) et ses composantes spécifiques au délire (ED-I) et à la douleur (ED-II). RéSULTATS: Nous avons recruté soixante-neuf enfants. En salle de réveil, les valeurs NIPE moyennes (écart type [ET]) chez les enfants souffrant de douleurs modérées et sévères étaient respectivement de 50 (12) et de 49 (14). Ces valeurs étaient significativement inférieures à la valeur moyenne (ET) de 64 (13) observée chez les enfants présentant une douleur légère (différence moyenne modérée vs pas de douleur ou douleur légère, −14; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, −17 à −11; P < 0,001, et différence moyenne entre douleur sévère vs pas de douleur ou douleur légère, −17; IC 95 %, −20 à −14; P < 0,001, respectivement). L'indice NIPE était significativement plus faible chez les enfants présentant un ED-II spécifique à la douleur (moyenne [ET] NIPE instantanée [NIPEi] pour ED-II, 49 [10] vs pas de ED-II, 55 [13]; différence moyenne, −6; IC 95 %, −11 à −2; P = 0,009). L'indice NIPE n'a pas été en mesure de détecter le délire d'émergence (NIPEi moyen [ET] pour le délire d'émergence, 54 [15] vs pas de délire d'émergence, 51 [10]; différence moyenne, 3; IC 95 %, −2 à 8; P = 0,23) ou la composante spécifique au délire de l'ED-I (NIPEi moyen [ET] pour ED-I, 55 [15] vs pas d'ED-I, 51 [11]; différence moyenne, 4; IC 95 %, 0 à 8; P = 0,06). CONCLUSION: L'indice NIPE permet d'identifier une douleur postopératoire modérée et sévère après une adéno-amygdalectomie mais pas le délire d'émergence chez les enfants de trois ans et moins. Cette discrimination peut être utile dans la phase postopératoire précoce lorsqu'il est difficile de différencier la douleur et le délire d'émergence. ENREGISTREMENT DE L'éTUDE: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04909060 ); première soumission le 26 mai 2021.

Perioperative clinical practice recommendations for pediatric tonsillectomy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. Since most clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are designed to support surgical decisions, none are specifically designed for the perioperative management of children undergoing tonsillectomy. We aimed to identify and analyze the existing CPGs with recommendations for the perioperative management of children undergoing tonsillectomy by conducting a systematic review. SOURCE: We searched Embase, MEDLINE, MEDLINE ePub Ahead of Print, and CINAHL for relevant articles published from inception to 3 August 2022. The inclusion criteria were: 1) CPG of perioperative recommendations for tonsillectomy under general anesthesia in children, 2) CPG that include at least one evidence-based recommendation, 3) peer-reviewed CPG published in English after 2000. We extracted data on baseline characteristics of each CPG and general recommendations for perioperative interventions or complications. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Out of five eligible CPGs, AGREE II and REX confirmed that two CPGs were high quality while only one of the two was recommended for implementation without modifications. Most of the recommendations were for pain management. Acetaminophen was the only medication recommended in all five CPG. Except for the oldest CPG, the CPG all supported of the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids as a pain adjunct. CONCLUSIONS: Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroids are recommended in the perioperative management of pediatric tonsillectomy. Future CPG should further clarify the safe use of opioids based on severity of obstructive sleep apnea and in the context of opioid-sparing techniques, such as dexmedetomidine, high-dose dexamethasone, and gabapentinoids. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42021253374); first submitted 18 June 2021.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'amygdalectomie est l'une des interventions chirurgicales les plus courantes pratiquées chez les enfants. Étant donné que la plupart des lignes directrices de pratique clinique sont conçues pour soutenir les décisions chirurgicales, aucune n'est spécifiquement conçue pour la prise en charge périopératoire des enfants bénéficiant d'une amygdalectomie. Notre objectif était d'identifier et d'analyser les lignes directrices de pratique clinique existantes comportant des recommandations pour la prise en charge périopératoire des enfants bénéficiant d'une amygdalectomie en réalisant une revue systématique. SOURCES: Nous avons recherché des articles pertinents dans Embase, MEDLINE, MEDLINE ePub Ahead of Print et CINAHL, publiés depuis la création de ces bases de données jusqu'au 3 août 2022. Les critères d'inclusion étaient les suivants : 1) lignes directrices de pratique clinique comportant des recommandations périopératoires pour l'amygdalectomie sous anesthésie générale chez les enfants, 2) lignes directrices de pratique clinique incluant au moins une recommandation fondée sur des données probantes, et 3) lignes directrices de pratique clinique évaluées par des pairs et publiées en anglais après 2000. Nous avons extrait des données sur les caractéristiques de base de chacune des lignes directrices de pratique clinique et des recommandations générales pour les interventions périopératoires ou les complications. CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES: Sur les cinq lignes directrices de pratique clinique admissibles, AGREE II et REX ont confirmé que deux lignes directrices de pratique clinique étaient de haute qualité, tandis qu'une seule des deux a été recommandée pour une mise en œuvre sans modifications. La plupart des recommandations portaient sur la prise en charge de la douleur. L'acétaminophène était le seul médicament recommandé dans les cinq lignes directrices de pratique clinique. À l'exception des lignes directrices de pratique clinique les plus anciennes, les autres ont toutes soutenu l'utilisation d'agents anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens et de stéroïdes comme adjuvants pour la douleur. CONCLUSION: L'acétaminophène, les agents anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens et les stéroïdes sont recommandés pour la prise en charge périopératoire de l'amygdalectomie pédiatrique. À l'avenir, les lignes directrices de pratique clinique devraient clarifier davantage l'utilisation sécuritaire des opioïdes en fonction de la gravité de l'apnée obstructive du sommeil et dans le contexte des techniques d'épargne des opioïdes, telles que la dexmédétomidine, la dexaméthasone à forte dose et les gabapentinoïdes. ENREGISTREMENT DE L'éTUDE: PROSPERO (CRD42021253374); soumise pour la première fois le 18 juin 2021.

Effectiveness of implementing a standardized perioperative pain management protocol in children undergoing tonsillectomy: A quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tonsillectomy procedures are commonly performed worldwide. At our academic tertiary care facility, we perform approximately 1000 tonsillectomy procedures annually. We have found inconsistent pain management strategies in pediatric tonsillectomy patients have contributed to variability in postoperative complications and the number and types of postoperative pain medications required in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). This project aimed to assess the impact of implementing a standardized perioperative pain management protocol on reducing postoperative complications in pediatric patients who underwent a tonsillectomy procedure. METHODS: A pre-post-intervention design was utilized, comparing characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients for whom a standardized perioperative pain management protocol was implemented over a 12-week period compared to those who did not. The standardized perioperative pain management protocol was utilized intraoperatively by the anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and residents. A Qualtrics survey was used by the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurses to gather data as they cared for patients who underwent tonsillectomy. Four outcomes were measured: (1) postoperative pain medication administration, (2) rate of postoperative respiratory complications, (3) rate of adherence, and (4) usability of a standardized pain management protocol. Data were compared between pre and post-implementation groups. RESULTS: During the quality improvement project, 180 children underwent tonsillectomy, with 81 in the control group and 99 in the intervention group. The median age did not differ between groups. The control group had higher postoperative opioid medication usage (93.8% vs. 54.5%) and a higher number of opioids administered in the recovery room. Postoperative IV fentanyl was reduced in the intervention group (49.4% vs. 28.3% in the intervention, p = .004). Respiratory interventions were more frequent in the control group (24.7% vs. 7.1%), with increased respiratory team activation. Respiratory team activation in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) includes a 511 page for anesthesia provider assistance. Respiratory interventions included bag-mask ventilation, lidocaine, propofol or succinylcholine administration, and reintubation. The intervention group had 100% adherence to the pain management protocol, and providers found it easy to use. CONCLUSION: The quality improvement project highlighted notable improvements in the intervention group for whom a standardized perioperative pain management protocol was used, including reduced opioid medication administration, lower incidence of respiratory interventions, and high adherence to the pain management protocol. These findings underscore the effectiveness and feasibility of standardized protocols in enhancing patient outcomes.

Metabolomic profiling of pediatric post-tonsillectomy pain: A proof-of-concept study.

INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomies are among the most common surgical procedures in children, with over 500 000 cases annually in the United States. Despite universal administration of intraoperative opioid analgesia, three out of five children undergoing tonsillectomy report moderate-to-severe pain upon recovering from anesthesia. The underlying molecular mechanisms of post-tonsillectomy pain are not well understood, limiting the development of targeted treatment strategies. Our study aimed to identify candidate serum metabolites associated with varying severity of post-tonsillectomy pain. METHODS: Venous blood samples and pain scores were obtained from 34 children undergoing tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy, and metabolomic analysis was performed. Supervised orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis were employed to identify differentially expressed metabolites between children with severe and mild pain, as well as between moderate and mild pain. RESULTS: Pain scores differentiated children as mild (n = 6), moderate (n = 14), or severe (n = 14). Four metabolites (fatty acid 18:0(OH), thyroxine, phosphatidylcholine 38:5, and branched fatty acids C27H54O3) were identified as candidate biomarkers that differentiated severe vs. mild post-tonsillectomy pain, the combination of which yielded an AUC of 0.91. Similarly, four metabolites (sebacic acid, dicarboxylic acids C18H34O4, hydroxy fatty acids C18H34O3, and myristoleic acid) were identified as candidate biomarkers that differentiated moderate vs. mild post-tonsillectomy pain, with AUC values ranging from 0.85 to 0.95. CONCLUSION: This study identified novel candidate biomarker panels that effectively differentiated varying severity of post-tonsillectomy pain. Further research is needed to validate these data and to explore their clinical implications for personalized pain management in children undergoing painful surgeries.

The effect on perioperative anxiety and emergence delirium of the child or parent's preference for parental accompaniment during anesthesia induction in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric emergence delirium (ED) occurs in the early postoperative period and is defined as a complex psychiatric disorder. Non-pharmacological methods of treatment, such as perioperative parental presence, have been the focus of many studies, but the impact on preventing ED of which parent accompanies the child during anesthesia induction has not been identified as yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the selection made by children undergoing adenotonsillectomy of which parent will accompany them during anesthesia induction has the effect of reducing postoperative delirium scores and incidence compared to selections made by the parents. METHODS: The study included 80 children of both genders, aged 5-12 years, who underwent day-case surgery in the otorhinolaryngology clinic. The patients were separated randomly into two groups of 40. In Group 1, the children were asked to choose which of their parents would accompany them during general anesthesia induction, and in Group 2, the parents were asked to decide who would be the accompanying parent. Evaluation of postoperative delirium was made using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The anxiety level of the children was evaluated with the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) both in the preoperative waiting area and during the anesthesia induction. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate the anxiety level of the parents. RESULTS: The mean PAED scores were similar in both groups (mean difference [95% CI]: -0.1 [-2.8 to 0.7]). The incidence of emergence delirium was also similar in both groups (risk ratio 0.9 [0.4 to 1.8]). The mean mYPAS scores during the induction of anesthesia of Group 1 was lower than that of Group 2 (mean difference [95% CI]: -8.4 [-15.2 to -1.6]). The mean mYPAS scores evaluated in the preoperative waiting area were found to be similar in the two groups (mean difference [95% CI]: -1.9 [-7.5 to 3.5]). The mean STAI anxiety scores of the parents were similar in both groups, with higher scores obtained by mothers compared to fathers, at all measurement times. CONCLUSION: The incidence or severity of ED did not decrease significantly even though lower anxiety scores were obtained during anesthesia induction in children who were allowed to make the decision of accompanying parent. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that postoperative delirium is a more complicated process that can be affected by many other variables rather than just the parent-child general interaction.

Comparative evaluation of culture results and composition of microbiome of removed tonsils due to distant focal disease or other reasons. A prospective pilot study.

The aim of this prospective pilot study was to compare culture and microbiome results of the removed tonsils of patients with assumed distant focal disease (11 patients) and those who underwent a tonsillectomy, due to other reasons, such as recurrent tonsillitis, tonsil stones or snoring (nine patients). Aerobic culture was carried out for samples taken from the surface of the tonsils by swabs before tonsillectomy for all 20 patients. The squeezed detritus and the tissue samples of removed tonsils, taken separately for the right and left tonsils, were incubated aerobically and anaerobically. The microbiome composition of tissue samples of removed tonsils was also evaluated. Based on the culture results of the deep samples Staphylococcus aureus was the dominating pathogen, besides a great variety of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria present in the oral microbiota in those patients who underwent tonsillectomy due to distant focal diseases. Microbiome study of the core tissue samples showed a great diversity on genus and species level among patients of the two groups however, S. aureus and Prevotella nigrescens were present in higher proportion in those, whose tonsils were removed due to distant focal diseases. Our results may support previous findings about the possible triggering role of S. aureus and P. nigrescens leading to distant focal diseases. Samples taken by squeezing the tonsils could give more information about the possible pathogenic/triggering bacteria than the surface samples cultured only aerobically.