[Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

Abstract

Four children were found to have clinically significant obstructive sleepapnea. Hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue, specifically the adenoid and tonsils causing obstructive sleepapnea in children, is a well defined clinical entity with nocturnal CO2 retention, retarded growth and impaired physical and psychological status. A small number of these children may develop pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale and ultimately death. Children with only moderately enlarged tonsils in association with neuromuscular hypotonia and anatomical defects may also develop this syndrome. Polysomnographic monitoring during natural sleep proved useful in confirming the diagnosis. All patients had improved after surgical relief of airway obstruction. The subjective impressions were documented by objective improvement: normalization of growth curves, ECG improvement of cor pulmonale and improvement of bloodgasses. Increased awareness of obstructive sleepapnea and examination of the sleeping patient and polysomnographic monitoring should result in earlier treatment and less morbidity for children with obstructive sleepapnea.