Laryngeal clefts in Prader-Willi syndrome: Feeding difficulties and aspiration not always caused by hypotonia.

Feeding difficulties, aspiration, and failure to thrive in infancy are commonly seen in patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and attributed to hypotonia. Patients with PWS and laryngeal clefts were identified by review of medical records at three tertiary care children's hospitals between 2017 and 2022. We present three patients with PWS with feeding difficulties who were also found to have laryngeal clefts which likely contributed to their feeding difficulties. Additional factors such as airway anomalies should be considered in patients with PWS, especially when swallowing dysfunction, dysphagia, or abnormal swallow evaluations are present.

Pediatric Down Syndrome Upper Airway Stimulation: Patient Selection and Post-Implantation Optimization.

OBJECTIVE: The Food and Drug Administration recently approved upper airway stimulation (UAS) for children with Down Syndrome and persistent obstructive sleep apnea who meet certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although there is a robust experience with this therapy in the adult population, established protocols used in adults are not directly transferrable to a complex pediatric population. This review aims to combine the protocols from several institutions for patient selection and postimplantation optimization, including a protocol for Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy in children with Down Syndrome, preactivation threshold measurements, device titration, and follow-up sleep studies. STUDY DESIGN: Expert panel development of best Practice algorithm. SETTING: Multi-institutional investigator review. METHODS: An expert panel was assembled of pediatric otolaryngologists with extensive experience in hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with Down Syndrome. Thirty statements were created during an initial drafting session. A modified Delphi method was used assess consensus among the panel. RESULTS: After 2 rounds of Delphi surveys, 29 statements met criteria for consensus. One statement did not meet consensus. The statements were grouped into several categories to facilitate presentation. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized approach to UAS for children with Down Syndrome must take into account the unique challenges inherent to treating a complex pediatric population with a high rate of sensory processing disorders. This expert panel has met consensus on several statements that will guide clinicians as this novel therapy is adopted.

Polysomnographic parameters and clinical risk factors predicting postoperative respiratory complications in children undergoing supraglottoplasty.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Postoperative respiratory complications (PORCs) can occur following supraglottoplasty (SGP) for obstructive sleep apnea. However, there are very limited data on risk factors associated with these complications. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence of PORC in children undergoing SGP and to assess clinical factors and polysomnographic parameters predicting these complications. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in children with laryngomalacia who underwent SGP with preoperative polysomnography. RESULTS: 400 children who underwent SGP met the criteria for entry into the analysis with a total of 416 surgeries with corresponding preoperative polysomnography. The median age (interquartile range) at the time of polysomnography was 0.4 (0.2, 1.5) years. A total of 96 (23.1%) PORCs were noted. Compared with those without complications, children with PORCs had a higher proportion of congenital heart disease (P < .05), higher median obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (obstructive AHI; median 16.0 vs 11.4 events/h; P < .01), and lower median oxygen saturation (SpO2) (P < .001). The unadjusted odd ratio indicated an increased risk of PORCs in children with congenital heart disease (odds ratio 1.66; P < .05) and those with an obstructive AHI > 10 events/h (odds ratio 2.06; P < .01). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that an obstructive AHI > 10 events/h was the only independent risk factor for PORCs (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of children with laryngomalacia undergoing SGP, those with underlying congenital heart disease, higher obstructive AHI, and lower SpO2 were more likely to develop PORCs. Only children with an obstructive AHI > 10 events/h were at significantly increased risk for PORCs following SGP. Preoperative polysomnography is useful in preoperative planning in children undergoing SGP. CITATION: Kanavitoon S, Ngamprasertwong P, Gurbani N, et al. Polysomnographic parameters and clinical risk factors predicting postoperative respiratory complications in children undergoing supraglottoplasty. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(1):9-16.

Caregiver experiences helping children with Down syndrome use positive airway pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: While positive airway pressure (PAP) is an efficacious intervention for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with Down syndrome (DS), implementation and consistent use can be difficult. Caregiver perspectives and experiences using PAP are described with the aim of informing clinical practice. METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 40 caregivers (i.e., mothers) of children with DS and OSAS treated with PAP for at least 6 months. Content analysis was used to identify themes associated with adherence and non-adherence. RESULTS: Respondents indicated variability in caregiver experience with the adoption of PAP and observed benefits of PAP. Varied experiences were attributed to several themes including accessing supplies, interactions with the medical team and equipment company, and patients' unique needs and behaviors, including the child's willingness and ability to adapt to PAP, sensory sensitivities, keeping the mask on all night, and differences in daytime behavior. Many families reported that desensitization with a reward system and trust within the caregiver-patient relationship were helpful. Caregiver suggestions for improving PAP adherence for families of children with DS included improving communication with the medical team and medical equipment company, emphasizing patience, using visual supports, and social support and education for extended family. CONCLUSIONS: Although family experiences varied, several actionable strategies by both the medical team and families emerged for improving the experience of and adherence to PAP in children with DS.

Sleep Apnea in Children With Down Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The authors of this study aimed to evaluate the use of polysomnography (PSG) in children with Down syndrome (DS) between ages 0 and 7 years, to assess the prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and associated comorbidities, and to describe interventions used for OSA. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for children with DS born between 2013 and 2019. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record, including demographics, age at PSG, PSG results, and interventions after an abnormal PSG. Statistical analysis included unadjusted bivariate association testing and multivariable logistic regression modeling to investigate associations with OSA severity. RESULTS: Among 397 patients in the cohort, 59% (n = 235) had a documented PSG and 94% (n = 221) had an abnormal study with 60% (n = 141) demonstrating moderate or severe OSA. There was an inverse relationship between age and OSA severity (P < .001). In a multiple regression model, OSA severity was associated with increased rates of failure to thrive (P < .01), aspiration (P = .02), and laryngomalacia (P < .01). After medical or surgical intervention, 73% of patients experienced the resolution of OSA or an improvement in OSA severity. CONCLUSION: In this study of pediatric patients with DS, OSA was identified most frequently in the first year of life. In addition, to prompt evaluation of symptomatic infants, our data support earlier PSG screening for patients requiring neonatal ICU care and those with feeding difficulties, airway abnormalities, and/or pulmonary hypertension given their increased risk for severe OSA.

Sleep Endoscopy and Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Children With Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare findings of same-day cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and examine how each technique uniquely contributes to the evaluation of persistent obstructive sleep apnea following adenotonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Quaternary care center. METHODS: Chart review was performed for consecutive patients who underwent same-day cine MRI and DISE between 2015 and 2020. Descriptive statistics are reported, and Cohen kappa coefficients were calculated to evaluate the agreement between cine MRI and DISE for obstruction at the adenoids, lingual tonsils, and tongue base. RESULTS: There were 137 patients, the mean age was 10.4 years (95% CI, 3.2-16.7), and 62.8% were male. The most common sites of obstruction on DISE were the tongue base (86.9%), velum (78.7%), epiglottis (74.5%), inferior turbinate (68.6%), and lingual tonsil (61.3%). The most common sites of obstruction on cine MRI were the hypopharynx (56.3%), tongue base (44.8%), lingual tonsil (38.0%), and macroglossia (37.6%). There was moderate agreement for adenoid hypertrophy (κ = 0.53) and poor agreement for lingual tonsil hypertrophy (κ = 0.15) and tongue base obstruction (κ = 0.09). DISE identified more instances of multilevel obstruction when compared with cine MRI (94.9% vs 48.2%). CONCLUSION: DISE offered a better examination of nasal and supraglottic obstruction and is sensitive to partial vs complete collapse, while cine MRI offered better soft tissue resolution for lymphoid tissue hypertrophy and provided a global view of primary and secondary airway obstruction. Cine MRI and DISE are complementary modalities in the evaluation of children with persistent obstructive sleep apnea.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Adherence to Guideline-Based Polysomnography in Children With Down Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of children with Down syndrome who did and did not receive polysomnography to evaluate for obstructive sleep apnea after publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines recommending universal screening by age 4 years. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single tertiary pediatric hospital. METHODS: Review was conducted of children with Down syndrome born between 2007 and 2012. Children who obtained polysomnography were compared with children who did not, regarding demographic data, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities. RESULTS: We included 460 children with Down syndrome; 273 (59.3%) received at least 1 polysomnogram, with a median age of 3.6 years (range, 0.1-8.9 years). There was no difference in the distribution of sex, insurance status, or socioeconomic status between children who received polysomnography and those who did not. There was a significant difference in race distribution (P = .0004) and distance from home to the medical center (P < .0001) between groups. Among multiple medical comorbidities, only children with a history of hypothyroidism (P = .003) or pulmonary aspiration (P = .01) were significantly more likely to have obtained polysomnography. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 60% of children with Down syndrome obtained a polysomnogram. There was no difference between groups by payer status or socioeconomic status. A significant difference in race distribution was noted. Proximity to the medical center and increased medical need appear to be associated with increased likelihood of obtaining a polysomnogram. This study illustrates the need for improvement initiatives to increase the proportion of patients receiving guideline-based screening.

Sleep Architecture in Children With Down Syndrome With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize polysomnographic sleep architecture in children with Down syndrome and compare findings in those with and without obstructive sleep apnea. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with retrospective review. SETTING: Single tertiary pediatric hospital (2005-2018). METHODS: We reviewed the electronic health records of patients undergoing polysomnography who were referred from a specialized center for children with Down syndrome (age, ≥12 months). Continuous positive airway pressure titration, oxygen titration, and split-night studies were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 397 children were included (52.4% male, 81.6% Caucasian). Mean age at the time of polysomnography was 4.7 years (range, 1.4-14.7); 79.4% had obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep variables were reported as mean (SD) values: sleep efficiency, 85% (11%); sleep latency, 29.8 minutes (35.6); total sleep time, 426 minutes (74.6); rapid eye movement (REM) latency, 126.8 minutes (66.3); time spent in REM sleep, 22% (7%); arousal index, 13.3 (5); and time spent supine, 44% (28%). There were no significant differences between those with obstructive sleep apnea and those without. Sleep efficiency <80% was seen in 32.5%; 34.3% had a sleep latency >30 minutes; 15.9% had total sleep time <360 minutes; and 75.6% had an arousal index >10/h. Overall, 69.2% had ≥2 metrics of poor sleep architecture. REM sleep time <20% was seen in 35.3%. REM sleep time decreased with age. CONCLUSION: In children with Down syndrome, 32.5% had sleep efficiency <80%; 75.6% had an elevated arousal index; and 15.9% had total sleep time <360 minutes. More than a third of the patients had ≥3 markers of poor sleep architecture. There was no difference in children with or without obstructive sleep apnea.

Effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy for REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Because dexmedetomidine (DEX)-induced sedation mimics non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, its utility in sedating children with REM-predominant disease is unclear. We sought to determine the effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) using DEX and ketamine for children with REM-predominant OSA, specifically whether or not at least one site of obstruction could be identified. METHODS: A retrospective case series of children without tonsillar hypertrophy undergoing DISE at a tertiary pediatric hospital from 10/2013 through 9/2015 who underwent subsequent surgery to address OSA with polysomnography (PSG) before and after. RESULTS: We included 56 children, mean age 5.6±5.4 years, age range 0.1-17.4 years, mean BMI 20.3±7.4 kg/m2 (76±29 percentile). At least one site of obstruction was identified in all patients, regardless of REM- or NREM-predominance. The mean obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) improved (12.6 ± 10.7 to 9.0 ± 14.0 events/h) in children with REM-predominant (P = 0.013) and NREM-predominant disease (21.3 ± 18.9 to 10.3 ± 16.2 events/h) (P = 0.008). The proportion of children with a postoperative oAHI < 5 was 53% and 55% for REM- and NREMpredominant OSA, respectively. Unlike children with NREM-predominant disease, children with REM-predominant disease had significant improvement in the mean saturation nadir (P < 0.001), total sleep time (P = 0.006), and sleep efficiency (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: For children with OSA without tonsillar hypertrophy, DISE using DEX/ketamine was useful to predict at least one site of obstruction, even for those with REM-predominant OSA. DISE-directed outcomes resulted in significant improvements in mean oAHI, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, saturation nadir, and the proportion with oAHI < 5, after surgery for some children with REM-predominant disease.

Children with Down syndrome and mild OSA: treatment with medication versus observation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Anti-inflammatory medications have been shown to be an effective treatment for mild OSA in otherwise healthy children. However, the efficacy in children with DS and mild OSA has not been investigated. Our aim was to examine the polysomnographic changes of children with DS and mild OSA treated with medication. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in children with DS (< 18 years) and mild OSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index ≤ 5 events/h) diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) between 2006 and 2018. Patients were included if they were treated with medications (intranasal corticosteroids and/or montelukast) or by observation with a duration of at least 3 months and had baseline and follow-up PSGs. Demographic data, comorbid diagnoses, and PSG data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-five children met inclusion criteria. In the medication group, 29 children were identified. The median age was 7.4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4.9-9.3). In the observation group, 16 children were identified. The median age was 4.0 years (IQR 3.2-5.3). The median time from baseline to follow-up PSG was 14.0 months (IQR 10.0-22.9) for the medication group and 10.5 months (IQR 6.5-33.5) for the observation group. There were no significant changes in the median obstructive apnea-hypopnea index from the baseline to follow-up PSG in either the medication group (2.8 [IQR 2.2-3.6) versus 3.5 [IQR 1.4-4.8) events/h; P = .25) or the observation group (2.3 [IQR 1.3-3.1] versus 2.9 [IQR 1.9-6.8] events/h; P = .12). Similarly, there were no significant differences in apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen nadir or end-tidal carbon dioxide between the groups (P = .07-1). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, medication therapy did not significantly improve polysomnographic measures in children with DS and mild OSA. Several factors such as hypotonia and relative macroglossia may explain the ineffectiveness of medical therapy for OSA in this population. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm these results and to evaluate if a subgroup of DS children may benefit from medical therapy.

Adherence to Guidelines for Screening Polysomnography in Children with Down Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the percentage and mean age of children with Down syndrome (DS) who underwent polysomnography (PSG) to evaluate for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before and after the introduction of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommending universal screening by age 4 years. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single tertiary pediatric hospital. METHODS: This study is a review of patients with DS seen in a subspecialty clinic. Children born preguidelines (2000-2006) were compared with children born postguidelines (2007-2012) regarding percentage receiving PSG, age at first PSG, and rate of OSA. RESULTS: We included 766 children with DS; 306 (40%) were born preguidelines. Overall, 61% (n = 467) underwent PSG, with a mean ± SD age of 4.2 ± 2.9 years at first PSG; 341 (44.5%) underwent first PSG by age 4 years. The rate of OSA (obstructive index ≥1 event/hour) among children undergoing first PSG was 78.2%. No difference was seen in the percentage receiving PSG preguidelines (63.4%) versus postguidelines (59.4%, P = .26). The mean age at the time of first PSG was 5.3 ± 3.5 years preguidelines versus 3.4 ± 2.0 years postguidelines (P < .0001). Children in the postguidelines cohort were more likely to undergo first PSG during the ages of 1 through 4 years (67.4% vs 52.1%, P < .0001). There was no difference in rates of OSA between the pre- and postguidelines cohorts (79.8% vs 75.9%, P = .32). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two-thirds of children with DS (61%) underwent PSG overall, with a significant shift toward completion of PSG at an earlier age after the introduction of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for universal screening for OSA.

Outcomes of Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy-Directed Surgery for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of pediatric drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)-directed surgery for children with infant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or OSA after adenotonsillectomy. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods We included 56 children undergoing DISE from October 2013 to September 2015 who underwent subsequent surgery to address OSA. The primary outcome was successful response to DISE-directed surgery based on the postoperative obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index (oAHI). Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks tests were used to compare polysomnography variables before and after surgery, and regression was used to model response to surgery. Results We evaluated 56 patients with a mean age of 5.9 ± 5.5 years (range, 0.1-17.4) and mean body mass index of 21.2 ± 7.9 kg/m2 (percentile, 77 ± 30). The most commonly performed surgical procedures were adenoidectomy (48%, n = 27), supraglottoplasty (38%, n = 21), tonsillectomy (27%, n = 15), lingual tonsillectomy (13%, n = 7), nasal surgery (11%, n = 6), pharyngoplasty (7%, n = 4), and partial midline glossectomy (7%, n = 4). Mean oAHI improved from 14.9 ± 13.5 to 10.3 ± 16.2 events/hour, with 54% (30 of 56) of children with oAHI <5 and 16.1% (9 of 56) with oAHI <1. There was a significant improvement in oAHI ( P = .001) and saturation nadir ( P < .001) but not in time with end tidal carbon dioxide >50 mm Hg ( P = .14). Multivariable modeling, controlling for age, race, body mass index, sex, and baseline polysomnography variables, revealed that white race predicted success of DISE-directed surgery. Conclusion Fifty-four percent of children with infant OSA or persistent OSA after adenotonsillectomy had oAHI <5 events per hour after DISE-directed surgery. Only white race was predictive of oAHI <5 events per hour.

Polysomnography in Pediatric Otolaryngology: If Not Obstructive Sleep Apnea, What Is It?

Objective To determine common polysomnographic (PSG) diagnoses for children referred by otolaryngologists. Study Design Retrospective case series with chart review. Setting Single tertiary pediatric hospital (2010-2015). Subjects and Methods Review of the medical records of 1258 patients undergoing PSG by otolaryngology referral. Patients who underwent previous otolaryngologic surgery were excluded. Data distributions were evaluated using means with standard deviations for continuous variables and frequencies with percentages for categorical variables. Results A total of 1258 patients were included; 55.9% were male, 64.5% were Caucasian, 16.6% had Down syndrome, and 48% had public insurance. The median age at the time of PSG was 5.2 years (range = 0.2-18.94). Indications for PSG were sleep-disordered breathing (SDB; 69.4%), restless sleep (12.7%), airway anomalies (7.5%), and laryngomalacia (7.2%). SDB was seen in 73.4%, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 53.2%, OSA + central sleep apnea (CSA) in 4.5%, CSA in 0.9%, and non-OSA snoring in 15%. Other diagnoses included periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS; 7.4%), hypoventilation (6.8%), and nonapneic hypoxemia (2.6%). SDB was more common in younger children and seen in 91.4% of children <12 months and in 69.2% of children ≥24 months, while non-OSA snoring was more common with increasing age (3.7% in children <12 months, 17.7% of children ≥24 months). PLMS were seen in 8.9% of children ≥24 months and in no children <12 months. Conclusion While OSA and snoring were the most common diagnoses reported, PLMS, alveolar hypoventilation, and CSA occurred in 7.4%, 6.8%, and 5.4%, respectively. These findings indicate that additional diagnoses other than OSA should be considered for children seen in an otolaryngology clinic setting who undergo PSG for sleep disturbances.

Temporal trends in inpatient pediatric sleep apnea surgery: 1993-2010.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We sought to characterize changes in the patterns of inpatient surgical sleep care over time and ascertain if these changes were consistent with previously reported trends in adult surgical sleep care. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional study. METHODS: Discharge data from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 125,691 nasal, palatal, or hypopharyngeal procedures in children for sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from 1993 to 2010 were analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariate regression modeling. RESULTS: Inpatient surgical sleep procedures increased from 45,671 performed in 1993 to 2000 (study period 1) to 80,020 in 2001 to 2010 (study period 2). Overall, patients were commonly male (61.3%), privately insured (46.8%), 2 to 6 years old (39.4%), and white (36.4%). Obesity was reported in 4.6% and 6.7% of children during study periods 1 and 2, respectively (P < .0001). Tonsillectomy (with and without adenoidectomy) was the most commonly performed procedure in both study periods. With the exception of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tracheostomy, all sleep procedures increased over time; however, multilevel surgery did not significantly increase (P = .28). Children who underwent sleep surgery during study period 2 were more likely to receive a supraglottoplasty (P = .0125) and to undergo procedures at high-volume hospitals (P = .0311), and less likely to undergo a tracheostomy (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data reflect changing trends in the surgical management of pediatric OSA, with significant increases in nasal and hypopharyngeal procedures, particularly lingual tonsillectomy and supraglottoplasty. Unlike the trend in adults, multilevel surgery in children with sleep disordered breathing or OSA has not yet been integrated into routine clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2C Laryngoscope, 127:1235-1241, 2017.

OSA screening with the pediatric sleep questionnaire for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery in teen-LABS.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is reported in 70% of adolescents who present for bariatric surgery. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was developed to identify children at risk for OSA but is not validated in adolescents with obesity. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess validity of the PSQ to detect OSA and (2) to determine the correlation between anthropometric and polysomnography measurements. METHODS: A cross-sectional assessment of Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery participants at high risk for OSA was performed. Participants completed an overnight polysomnography, and caregivers completed the PSQ. RESULTS: Forty-five participants (84% female, 78% Caucasian, mean age = 16.7 ± 1.5 years) were evaluated. Mean BMI was 51.3 ± 7.7 kg/m2 and mean obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) was 6.1 ± 5.9 events/h. For diagnosis of OSA (oAHI ≥5), the total PSQ score sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) were 86%, 38%, and 55%, respectively. For snoring >50% of the time, PPV was 84%, sensitivity was 64%, and specificity was 43%. Sagittal abdominal diameter correlated with oAHI and oxygen saturation nadir (ρ = 0.34, P = 0.027), whereas BMI, neck, and waist circumference correlated with neither. CONCLUSIONS: The PSQ demonstrated low specificity, and PPV and the question regarding snoring >50% of the time did not effectively identify OSA. Sagittal abdominal diameter correlated with oAHI and oxygen saturation nadir.

Pediatricians' adherence to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine shortage recommendations in 2 national shortages.

OBJECTIVES: The goals were (1) to compare pediatricians' heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine shortage experience and adherence to shortage recommendations during 2 heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine shortages, (2) to assess factors associated with nonadherence to second shortage recommendations, and (3) to assess opinions about national immunization policy during vaccine shortages. METHODS: We mailed surveys to all pediatrician immunization providers in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, metropolitan area. We assessed heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine supply and immunization practices during the shortages and provider attitudes regarding immunization shortage policy. RESULTS: The response rate was 61% (171 of 282 providers). Most pediatricians experienced heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine shortages (first shortage: 86%; second shortage: 84%). The rate of adherence to recommendations to defer the fourth heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine dose for healthy children was significantly higher during the second shortage, compared with the first shortage (first shortage: 62%; second shortage: 89%). Adherence to recommendations to administer the fourth dose to high-risk children remained unchanged (first shortage: 43%; second shortage: 45%). Controlling for other factors, pediatricians who reported a severe second shortage had greater odds of not fully vaccinating high-risk children, compared with those who reported no shortage. Contrary to recommendations, many pediatricians did not maintain tracking systems during the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine shortages (first shortage: 37%; second shortage: 46%). Most pediatricians (91%) thought that national vaccine shortage recommendations were needed to protect them from liability. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of adherence to recommendations to defer heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine doses for healthy children increased significantly from the first shortage to the second shortage. The nonadherent practice of deferring the fourth dose for high-risk children was associated with more severe shortages and, potentially, an inability to vaccinate.

Obstructive sleep apnea: Should all children with Down syndrome be tested?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children aged 2 to 4 years with Down syndrome and to determine parents' ability to predict sleep abnormalities in this patient population. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric referral center. PATIENTS: Sixty-five children participating in a 5-year longitudinal study in which the otolaryngologic problems seen in Down syndrome were evaluated. Fifty-six completed overnight polysomnography (PSG) between 4 and 63 months of age (mean age, 42 months). INTERVENTIONS: Overnight PSG was performed. Parents also completed a questionnaire regarding their impressions of their child's sleep patterns before PSG. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polysomnograms were classified as abnormal if the obstructive index was greater than 1, if the carbon dioxide level was greater than 45 mm Hg for more than two thirds of the study or greater than 50 mm Hg for more than 10% of the study, and/or if there was unexpected hypoxemia less than 92% during sleep or repeated intermittent desaturations less than 90%. We also identified a group of children whose PSGs findings were normal except for an arousal index greater than 10 and were associated with increased work of breathing. RESULTS: The PSGs revealed that 57% of the children had abnormal results and evidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If we also include an elevated arousal index, 80% of the PSGs had abnormal results. Sixty-nine percent of parents reported no sleep problems in their children, but in this group, 54% of PSGs had abnormal results. Of the parents who reported sleep problems in their children, only 36% had abnormal sleep study results. CONCLUSION: Because of the high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in young children with Down syndrome, and the poor correlation between parental impressions of sleep problems and PSG results, baseline PSG is recommended in all children with Down syndrome at age 3 to 4 years.