The Impact of the Severity of Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome on Postoperative Polysomnography: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

To explore the disparities in postoperative polysomnography (PSG) parameters among children with varying severities of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. Three databases (PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science Core Collection) were systematically queried for English-language articles on 10 June 2024. Studies involving patients under the age of 18 who underwent surgery for OSAHS with preoperative and postoperative assessments were eligible for inclusion in this review. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. In all severity groups, postoperative PSG demonstrated a significant reduction in the obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI), ranging from 84.2% to 94.3%. Additionally, the postoperative apnea hypopnea index (AHI) decreased by 35.4% in the group with an AHI ≥ 1/h and < 5/h, by 56.0%-72.7% in the group with an AHI of ≥ 5/h and < 10/h, and by 64.1%-87.0% in the group with an AHI ≥ 10/h. Children with more severe OSAHS are likely to derive greater surgical benefits within a 2-year timeframe. However, the long-term validity of this conclusion requires further substantiation.