%0 Journal Article
%T The role of rigid laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea: a case series of 65 children.
%A Dritsoula A
%A Clarke R
%A Hatziagorou E
%A Triaridis S
%A Talimtzi P
%A Elphick H
%J J Laryngol Otol
%V 138
%N 6
%D 2024 Jun 29
%M 38018216
%F 2.187
%R 10.1017/S0022215123002116
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To assess the role of laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea by identifying airway abnormalities at surgery, that occur separately or in addition to adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and examining the correlation with respiratory parameters.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A retrospective study was conducted of children with obstructive sleep apnoea who underwent laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy intra-operatively, performed by a single ENT surgeon from February 2016 to July 2019. Pre- and post-operative minimum oxygen saturation, apnoea-hypopnoea index, and oxygen desaturation index were recorded.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Sixty-five children were identified; 34 were aged less than three years and 31 were aged three years or more. 77 per cent and 13 per cent respectively had an airway abnormality; the t-test showed a significantly higher mean oxygen desaturation index and lower mean minimum oxygen saturation pre-operatively compared to children without an airway abnormality.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>An update of the surgical pathway for children aged less than three years with obstructive sleep apnoea is required to include laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy intra-operatively. A t-test analysis of the pre-operative respiratory parameters suggests that airway abnormalities contribute to obstructive sleep apnoea severity.