Role of Polysomnography in Children When Clinical Indicators of Sleep-Disordered Breathing Are Met (original) (raw)

2014, Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery

Objectives: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects approximately 12% of children, ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing SDB and has been increasingly obtained in children. Some feel PSG is underutilized given recent clinical guidelines; however, others believe that if the clinical indicators for OSA are present, a PSG is unnecessary. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of clinical indicators in predicting PSG results in children. Methods: A retrospective review of PSG on children between 2 and 18 years old ordered by an otolaryngologist at West Virginia University between January 2011 and November 2013. Recorded variables included: age, sex, symptoms of gasping, snoring, restlessness, body mass index, previous adenoidectomy, tonsil size, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Statistical analysis was used to compare positive PSG with clinical indicators. Results: Ninety-five patients were ...