A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Respiratory Complications in Children With Obstructive Sleepapnea

This is a retrospective, multicenter cohort study using anonymized electronic health record data collected in a prospective study (PORC -EDGE 2364) performed at UZA and an identical prospective data collection performed by collegues at Department of Sleep Laboratory and Sleep surgery at Heim Pal National Pediatric Institute at Budapest.Data are collected from otherwise healthy children and children with varying comorbidities undergoing (adeno)-tonsillecty for Obstructive Sleepapnea (OSAS). Per-postoperative management was carried out according to a predefined treatment protocol.

As this study uses existing data, no informed consent was required. The aim of the current project is to answer the following questions.

• What is the prevalence of Postoperative Respiratory Complications (PORC) in children undergoing surgical treatment for OSA and is the prevalence different according to the underlying comorbid condition (i.e obesity, craniofacial malformation, syndromes Down syndrome, neurological conditions affecting upper airway muscle tone)?
• Which factors are associated with the occurrence of PORC (Polysomnogram (PSG) related factors such as obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index (oAHI), minimum oxygen saturation during PSG, and patient related factors such as age at time of surgery, presence of a comorbidity)?
• Is it possible to develop a management algorithm for postoperative management based upon the risk factors for PORC above.

Inclusion criteria

• scheduled for (adeno)tonsillectomy as treatment for OSAS

Exclusion criteria

• other surgery than (adeno)tonsillectomy performed as treatment for OSAS
• Polysomnography not available within 1 year before surgery