Alternativas terapéuticas para el síndrome de apnea e hipoapnea obstructiva del sueño en niños con anomalías intermaxilares sagitales o transversales: Revisión narrativa / Therapeutic alternatives for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with sagittal and transverse intermaxillary anomalies: Narrative review

RESUMEN: Introducción: El síndrome de apnea e hipoapnea obstructiva del sueño corresponde a un trastorno respiratorio del sueño muy prevalente en niños. Muchas alternativas terapéuticas buscan controlar los factores desencadenantes y la progresión de los signos y síntomas. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir los efectos de los tratamientos para síndrome de apnea e hipoapnea del sueño en niños con anomalías intermaxilares sagitales o transversales. Material y método: Se realizó una búsqueda electrónica en las bases de datos: PubMed, Epistemónikos, EBSCO, TripDataBase y The Cochrane Library, con las palabras clave: "Obstructive sleep apnea", "Obstructive sleep apnoea", "Sleep apnea syndrome", "Sleep apnoea syndrome", "Sleep apnea", "Sleep apnoea", "hypoapnea", "OSA", "Treatment", "Therapy", "Children", "Pediatric", "Craniofacial abnormalities", "Craniofacial anomalies", "Craniofacial abnormality", "Orthodontic" y una búsqueda retrógrada en los textos seleccionados. Resultados: Se incluyeron 23 artículos; 12 ensayos clínicos, 6 revisiones sistemáticas, 1 estudio observacional y 4 revisiones narrativas. Conclusión: Los tratamientos ortopédicos para el síndrome de apnea e hipoapnea son la expansión rápida maxilar y dispositivos de avance mandibular. No se encontró suficiente evidencia para determinar que estos dispositivos resuelvan completamente el síndrome, pero disminuyen el índice de apnea e hipoapnea y sus signos y síntomas.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea and hypoapnea syndrome refers to a respiratory sleep disorder with an increased prevalence among children. There are many therapeutic alternatives, focused on controlling trigger factors and the signs and symptoms progression. The objective of this review is to describe the effects of the available treatments for sleep apnea and hypoapnea syndrome in children with sagittal and transverse intermaxillary anomalies. Materials and Method: An electronic search was performed in PubMed database, Epistemonikos, EBSCO, Tripdatabase, and The Cochrane Library, using the keywords "Obstructive sleep apnea", "Obstructive sleep apnoea", "Sleep apnea syndrome", "Sleep apnoea syndrome", "Sleep apnea", "Sleep apnoea", "hypoapnea", "OSA", "Treatment", "Therapy", "Children", "Pediatric", "Craniofacial abnormalities", "Craniofacial anomalies", "Craniofacial abnormality" and "Orthodontic". Also, a retrieval search in the selected articles references was performed. Results: 23 articles were included; 12 clinical trials, 6 systematic reviews, 1 observational study and 4 narrative reviews. Conclusion: There are two types of orthopedic treatment for sleep apnea and hypoapnea syndrome in children with sagittal and transverse intermaxillary anomalies: rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement devices. There was not enough evidence to determine that these devices achieve the syndrome's complete resolution. An important decrease in the apnea and hypoapnea index and signs and symptoms were observed.

Three nights leg thermal therapy could improve sleep quality in patients with chronic heart failure.

Sleep quality is often impaired in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), which may worsen their quality of life and even prognosis. Leg thermal therapy (LTT), topical leg warming, has been shown to improve endothelial function, oxidative stress, and cardiac function in patients with HF. However, its short-term influence to sleep quality has not been evaluated in HF patients. Eighteen of 23 patients with stable HF received LTT (15 min of warming at 45 °C and 30 min of insulation) at bedtime for 3 consecutive nights and 5 patients served as control. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated by St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire, Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi Sleep Inventory, and Epworth sleepiness scale, and also objectively evaluated by polysomnography. LTT significantly improved subjective sleep quality indicated by depth of sleep (p < 0.01), sleep duration (p < 0.05), number of awaking (p < 0.01), nap duration (p < 0.01), sleep quality (p < 0.05), and sleep satisfaction (p < 0.05). It was also objectively affirmed by a slight but significant decrease of sleep stage N1 (p < 0.01), and increase in sleep stage N2 (p < 0.05). No significant changes occurred in the controls. Hence, the short-term LTT could improve subjective and objective sleep quality in patients with HF. LTT can be a complimentary therapy to improve sleep quality in these patients.

Resting state functional thalamic connectivity abnormalities in patients with post-stroke sleep apnoea: a pilot case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep apnoea is common after stroke, and has adverse effects on the clinical outcome of affected cases. Its pathophysiological mechanisms are only partially known. Increases in brain connectivity after stroke might influence networks involved in arousal modulation and breathing control. The aim of this study was to investigate the resting state functional MRI thalamic hyper-connectivity of stroke patients affected by sleep apnoea (SA) with respect to cases not affected, and to healthy controls (HC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of stabilized strokes were submitted to 3T resting state functional MRI imaging and full polysomnography. The ventral-posterior-lateral thalamic nucleus was used as seed. RESULTS: At the between groups comparison analysis, in SA cases versus HC, the regions significantly hyper-connected with the seed were those encoding noxious threats (frontal eye field, somatosensory association, secondary visual cortices). Comparisons between SA cases versus those without SA revealed in the former group significantly increased connectivity with regions modulating the response to stimuli independently to their potentiality of threat (prefrontal, primary and somatosensory association, superolateral and medial-inferior temporal, associative and secondary occipital ones). Further significantly functionally hyper-connections were documented with regions involved also in the modulation of breathing during sleep (pons, midbrain, cerebellum, posterior cingulate cortices), and in the modulation of breathing response to chemical variations (anterior, posterior and para-hippocampal cingulate cortices). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data support the presence of functional hyper connectivity in thalamic circuits modulating sensorial stimuli, in patients with post-stroke sleep apnoea, possibly influencing both their arousal ability and breathing modulation during sleep.

Compromised Airway and Atypical Facial Growth in The Adult Patient: A Case Study in the Redirection of Facial Growth.

This case history is an adult patient with a compromised upper airway, soft tissue dysfunction, and atypicalfacial growth. The nasal deviation and enlarged turbinates resulted in mouth-breathing and soft tissue dysfunction. Atypical growth occurs when the biological balance between bone remodeling and positional displacement is disrupted Following septoplasty and turbinate reduction to reestablish nasal respiration and myofunctional therapy to retrain the muscles, the atypical growth was redirected to normal. The final result was an overall improvement in general health, esthetics, and well-being.

Prevalence of Sleep-disordered Breathing in Obese Patients with Chronic Hypoxemia. A Cross-Sectional Study.

RATIONALE: Hypoxemia in obese patients is likely to be associated with a high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing. Supplemental oxygen is commonly used to treat chronic hypoxemia but carries some risk in obese individuals due to unrecognized comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). OBJECTIVES: The first step in the estimation of this risk is to determine the prevalence of OSA and OHS in obese individuals with chronic, awake hypoxemia. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed to assess the prevalence and severity of OSA and OHS among obese individuals with hypoxemia. One hundred eighty-four individuals underwent arterial blood gas testing and polysomnography. One hundred fifty-eight of these individuals also had spirometry. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of OSA was 80%, and the prevalence of OHS was 51%. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was confirmed by spirometry in 49% of the cohort, and OSA was found in 69% of those individuals. The severity of hypoxemia in this cohort was not statistically related to COPD, OSA, or OHS. CONCLUSIONS: OSA and OHS are highly prevalent in obese patients with chronic awake hypoxemia, and OSA frequently coexists with COPD. Evaluation of chronic, awake hypoxemia solely based on arterial blood gas measurements and pulmonary function testing is not sufficient to identify OSA and OHS. Further diagnostic sleep testing should be performed to identify those who could benefit from alternative therapies and to avoid potential harm from treatment with supplemental oxygen alone.

Mechanisms of REM sleep in health and disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Our understanding of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and how it is generated remains a topic of debate. Understanding REM sleep mechanisms is important because several sleep disorders result from disturbances in the neural circuits that control REM sleep and its characteristics. This review highlights recent work concerning how the central nervous system regulates REM sleep, and how the make up and breakdown of these REM sleep-generating circuits contribute to narcolepsy, REM sleep behaviour disorder and sleep apnea. RECENT FINDINGS: A complex interaction between brainstem REM sleep core circuits and forebrain and hypothalamic structures is necessary to generate REM sleep. Cholinergic activation and GABAergic inhibition trigger the activation of subcoeruleus neurons, which form the core of the REM sleep circuit. SUMMARY: Untimely activation of REM sleep circuits leads to cataplexy - involuntary muscle weakness or paralysis - a major symptom of narcolepsy. Degeneration of the REM circuit is associated with excessive muscle activation in REM sleep behaviour disorder. Inappropriate arousal from sleep during obstructive sleep apnea repeatedly disturbs the activity of sleep circuits, particularly the REM sleep circuit.

Good long-term results after tonsillectomy in ear, nose and throat practices.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to evaluate the long-term results of outpatient tonsillectomy in Danish ear, nose and throat (ENT) practices in terms of satisfaction, quality of life (QoL) and relief of symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A telephone interview was carried out at least three years after tonsillectomy. Alternatively, a questionnaire was filled in by the patients. The answers were compared to a pre-operative questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 63% (386/614). No differences were found between the responders and the non-responders except that the proportion of smokers was higher in the non-responder group. QoL improved significantly and 93% were satisfied with having chosen tonsillectomy. 95% experienced complete or partial relief from their former throat-related symptoms. Eight to 11% had developed new symptoms from the throat including sleep-disordered breathing. CONCLUSION: With regard to QoL, satisfaction and relief of symptoms, the long-term results of outpatient tonsillectomy in Danish ENT practices are comparable to those obtained among hospitalized patients and they are in conformity with international standards. However, as approximately 10% develop new symptoms, it is important that physicians are aware of the indication as well as of any information received during shared decision-making with the patients/parents to adjust expectations. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: none.

Recomendaciones para los cuidados respiratorios del niño y adolescente con enfermedades neuromusculares / Respiratory care for the children and adolescents with neuromuscular diseases

El compromiso del sistema respiratorio repercute directamente en la morbimortalidad de niños y adolescentes con enfermedades neuromusculares (ENM). Un enfoque integral que incluya la aproximación a un diagnostico neurológico específico, evaluación funcional respiratoria, de los trastornos respiratorios de sueño, comorbilidades y afecciones secundarias, permiten orientar a el tipo, grado y pronóstico respiratorio; además de otorgar herramientas objetivas para modificar la historia natural de la enfermedad. Utilizar criterios estrictos de selección, una mirada interdisciplinaria y actividades complementarias de rehabilitación; que incorporen en forma programática la ventilación no invasiva domiciliaria, protocolos de tos asistida y métodos para aumentar la capacidad máxima de insuflación, cambia la evolución, disminuye la morbimortalidad y evita la traqueostomía, en una alta proporción de niños y adolescentes portadores de ENM.

Patient education combined in a music and habit-forming intervention for adherence to continuous positive airway (CPAP) prescribed for sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: As many as 50% of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea stop adhering to the prescribed medical treatment of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) within 1-3 weeks of onset. Thus, a theory-based intervention using music to support habit formation was designed to improve CPAP adherence at onset. The intervention materials included directions for CPAP nightly use, a diary for recording nightly use and writing about CPAP benefits or problems. In addition, an audiotape with softly spoken instructions for placing the CPAP mask comfortably, using deep breathing and muscle relaxation along with the slowly decreasing music tempo was provided to listen to at bedtime each night. METHODS: Effects of this music intervention were tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 97 patients with 53 males (55%) and 44 females (45%). Moderate to severe apnea/hyponea scores (per sleep laboratory data) and medical diagnosis of OSA were required for study inclusion. RESULTS: Compared to placebo controls, a greater proportion of experimental patients were adhering (chi(2)=14.67, p<0.01; a large difference, Phi=0.39) at the end of the first month of CPAP onset. There were no differences in CPAP adherence at 3 (X(2)=0.065, p=0.79) and 6 (X(2)=.118, p=0.73) months. Patients' diary data and satisfaction survey results indicated the intervention was rated as helpful and guided formation of a relaxing, habitual routine of CPAP nightly use. CONCLUSION: The intervention had a strong effect for improving adherence to CPAP at 1 month. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Adherence at the onset of treatment is critical and the audio music intervention was easily administered. Other interventions that target problems interfering with longer-term CPAP adherence are needed.

Sleep-related breathing disorder in children with vagal nerve stimulators.

The effects of vagal nerve stimulation on sleep-related breathing have not been well-described in children. Vagal nerve stimulation was reported to cause decreases in airflow during sleep, although most studies reported this condition to be clinically insignificant. We present a retrospective case series of nine children who underwent polysomnography after vagal nerve-stimulator placement. All children, except for one, had sleep-disordered breathing after stimulator implantation. We describe in further detail a child who manifested severe, obstructive sleep apnea postimplantation, with apneas occurring regularly and consistently with stimulator activity, resulting in an elevated apnea-hypopnea index of 37 per hour. Polysomnography was repeated with the stimulator turned off, and revealed complete resolution of the stimulator-related sleep apnea. With the vagal nerve stimulator back on, continuous positive airway pressure treatment was effective in normalizing the apnea-hypopnea index. This study demonstrates that severe and clinically significant disturbances in sleep-related breathing may occur with vagal nerve stimulators. Obstructive apneas of this severity, related to vagal nerve stimulators, were not previously described in pediatric patients. This effect on sleep-related breathing warrants further investigation and care in managing pediatric patients.

Down syndrome: caring holistically in primary health care.

All primary health care should be underpinned with a firm theoretical knowledge. The holistic management of Down syndrome patients should be an integral part of this knowledge base. The application of this knowledge should ideally encompass a positive approach to empowering patients to lead healthy, active and normal lives. This article highlights a basic documentation of what 'Down syndrome' is. The article gives community nursing staff the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of the condition, then encourages critical reflection on professional practice within primary care, with the intention of raising skill and awareness for the holistic management of patients with Down syndrome.

Vagus nerve stimulation in children with refractory epilepsy: unusual complications and relationship to sleep-disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is approved for use in patients with refractory epilepsy over the age of 12 years. While this procedure is widely used, there is little data on adverse events in young children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 26 children who had VNS implantation for refractory epilepsy from 1998 to 2004. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 3 to 17 years (16 boys and 10 girls). Seventy-seven percent had moderate to severe mental retardation. Sixty-five percent had more than 30 seizures per month. Symptomatic-generalized epilepsy was the predominant epilepsy syndrome seen in 77% of children. The duration of VNS treatment ranged from 1 month to 8 years (mean = 3.5 years). Twenty of 26 patients (77%) were on rapid-cycling mode. More than 50% reduction in seizure frequency was noted in 54% with two patients achieving seizure freedom. Twenty-three percent had less than 50% seizure reduction. Four patients were able to terminate seizures with use of the magnet. VNS was removed from one patient because of intractable cough persisting in spite of stimulation being turned off for 1 month. Another patient had it removed twice for infection. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was observed in four patients (15%) after placement of VNS. CONCLUSION: VNS appears to be an effective treatment for children with refractory epilepsy. Development of intractable cough in one patient in spite of device being turned off and recurrent infection-related removal in another are unusual complications. Polysomnography before implantation of VNS should be considered to identify patients with pre-existing OSA.

Sleep apnea is induced by a high-fat diet and reversed and prevented by metformin in non-obese rats.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the relationship between a high-fat (HF) diet and central apnea during rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep stages by recording ventilatory parameters in 28 non-obese rats in which insulin resistance had been induced by an HF diet. We also studied whether metformin (an anti-hyperglycemic drug frequently used to treat insulin resistance) could reverse sleep apnea or prevent its occurrence in this experimental paradigm. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Rats were fed with a standard diet (10 rats), an HF diet (8 rats), or an HF diet concomitantly with metformin treatment (10 rats). Each animal was instrumented for electroencephalographic and electromyographic recording. After 3 weeks, ventilatory parameters during sleep were recorded with a body plethysmograph. All rats were treated with metformin for 1 week, after which time the ventilatory measurements were measured again. RESULTS: Our results showed that the three groups of animals did not differ in terms of body growth over the entire experimental period. The HF diet did not modify sleep structure or minute ventilation in the different sleep stages. A great increase (+266 +/- 48%) in central apnea frequency was observed in insulin-resistant rats. This was explained by an increase in both post-sigh (+195 +/- 35%) and spontaneous apnea (+437 +/- 65%) in the different sleep stages. These increases were suppressed by metformin treatment. DISCUSSION: Insulin resistance induced by the HF diet could be the promoter of sleep apnea in non-obese rats. Metformin is an efficient curative and preventive treatment for sleep apnea, suggesting that insulin resistance modifies the ventilatory drive independently of obesity.

Sleep disorders in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Patients with dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), often have nocturnally disrupted sleep. Clinically, this may present as agitation during the nighttime hours, which may affect as many as a quarter of AD patients during some stage of their illness. Sleep disturbance in AD may be multifactorial and involve sleep-disordered breathing and disrupted chronobiology, both often characterized by excessive daytime napping. Polysomnographically, AD patients show decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in proportion to the extent of their dementia; some evidence suggests that cholinesterase inhibitors, commonly used pharmacologic agents for cognitive loss in AD, may increase REM sleep measures. Unfortunately, such agents may also induce insomnia and vivid dreams. There have been no randomized clinical trials of sedative-hypnotic medications specifically targeted at AD patients with sleep problems. Evidence suggests that sedative-hypnotics, such as benzodiazepine site-specific agonists, may have a role in some cases, whereas atypical antipsychotics may be necessary in other cases. There are also reports of successful interventions with nonpharmacologic options (eg, exercise, illumination). The utility of melatonin as a hypnotic in this population appears equivocal.

Sleep apnea and excessive daytime somnolence induced by vagal nerve stimulation.

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy affects respiration during sleep and can interrupt sleep. VNS has also been noted to improve excessive daytime sleepiness. The authors present a patient who developed excessive daytime sleepiness after VNS placement, as a consequence of apneas and arousals associated with intermittent electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve.

Long-term noninvasive ventilation in children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the long-term impact of nocturnal noninvasive (positive-pressure) ventilation (NIV) on sleep, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and respiratory function in children and adolescents with progressive neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Thirty patients (12.3 +/- 4.1 yrs) with various inherited NMD were treated with NIV for ventilatory insufficiency (n=14) or symptomatic SDB (n=16). Patients were prospectively followed with sleep studies, spirometry and peak inspiratory muscle pressure. Ten patients were studied before and after 3 nights withdrawal from NIV. NIV normalised nocturnal gas exchange in all patients and diurnal gas exchange in patients with ventilatory insufficiency. The effects persisted over 25.3 +/- 12.7 months. Nocturnal transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide improved from (baseline versus latest control) 7.1 +/- 1.3 to 5.5 +/- 0.6 kPa (53.7 +/- 9.9 to 41.6 +/- 4.8 mmHg), diurnal carbon dioxide arterial tension from 6.3 +/- 1.6 to 5.4 +/- 0.5 kPa (47.5 +/- 11.9 to 40.6 +/- 3.6 mmHg). NIV improved respiratory disturbance index, arousals from sleep, nocturnal heart rate and sleep architecture. Vital capacity decreased in five adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy -183 +/- 111 mL x yr(-1) but remained stable in 25 children with other conditions (8 +/- 78 mL x yr(-1)). Three nights withdrawal of NIV in 10 previously stable patients resulted in prompt deterioration of SDB and gas exchange back to baseline but could be instantly normalised by resumption of NIV. Noninvasive (positive-pressure) ventilation has favourable long-term impact on nocturnal and diurnal gas exchange and sleep and in patients with non-Duchenne neuromuscular disorders on vital capacity as well. It is indicated in children and adolescents with symptomatic sleep-disordered breathing or ventilatory insufficiency due to neuromuscular disorders.

Androgen deficiency in the aging male: benefits and risks of androgen supplementation.

There is now convincing evidence that in a subset of aging men, increasing with age, plasma testosterone levels fall below a critical level resulting in hypogonadism. This state of testosterone deficiency has an impact on bone, muscle and brain function and is maybe a factor in the accumulation of visceral fat which again has a significant impact on the cardiovascular risk profile. From the above it follows that androgen replacement to selected men with proven androgen deficiency will have beneficial effects. There is, however a concern that androgen administration to aging men may be harmful in view of effects on prostate disease. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer are typically diseases of the aging male, steeply increasing with age. But epidemiological studies provide no clues that the levels of circulating androgen are correlated with or predict prostate disease. Similarly, androgen replacement studies in men do not suggest that these men suffer in a higher degree from prostate disease than control subjects. It seems a defensible practice to treat aging men with androgens if and when they are testosterone-deficient, but long-term studies including sufficient numbers of men are needed.

[Tongue base reduction with radiofrequency energy in sleep apnea]. / Die Zungengrundreduktion mit Radiofrequenzenergie bei schlafbezogenen Atmungsstörungen. Postoperative Morbidität und Komplikationen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a minimally invasive technique. Repeated application leads to a progressive shrinking of the tissue. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our study, we summarize the experiences gained from 100 tongue base reductions and compare them with the pilot study that was recently published. An intensified treatment scheme was used with higher amounts of energy applied per treatment session. Visual analogue scales were used for the assessment of postoperative pain and functional parameters. Regular follow-up visits were scheduled to evaluate postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative pain was mostly mild or moderate. Paraoperative complications were not observed. The overall rate for postoperative complications was 8%, with 2% mild and 5% moderate complications. One severe complication--a tongue base abscedation--was observed. Using para- and postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the rate of complications. Functional parameters such as taste or swallowing were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the safety of the procedure and demonstrate the minimal para- and postoperative morbidity. The increased amount of energy applied per session has not led to an increase in postoperative morbidity.