• S D Sharma, H Kanona, G Kumar, and B Kotecha.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Queen's Hospital,Romford,UK.
• J Laryngol Otol. 2016 May 1; 130 (5): 482-9.

ObjectiveTo investigate the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in UK otolaryngology departments.MethodA telephone questionnaire survey of UK otolaryngology departments was conducted over a 16-week period.ResultsThe response rate was 61 per cent (85 out of 139 trusts). Use of pre-operative pulse oximetry was reported by 84 per cent of respondents, mainly to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea (73 per cent) or stratify post-operative risk (46 per cent). Thirty-one per cent of respondents reported using post-operative pulse oximetry. Twenty-five per cent of respondents have a dedicated management protocol for paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring. Thirty-four per cent require prior clinical commissioning group approval before performing surgery. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents reported following up their obstructive sleep apnoea patients after surgery. The mean follow-up period (±standard deviation) was 6.8 ± 1.2 weeks.ConclusionThere is variation in the assessment and management of paediatric snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea across the UK, particularly in the use of pre- and post-operative pulse oximetry monitoring, and further guidelines regarding this are necessary.

25 keywords...

hide…