Ear, nose and throat disorders in children with Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To document the reasons for which children with Down syndrome were referred to a pediatric otolaryngology practice, the underlying causes for these referrals, and the complications of routine surgical therapy.


METHODS
The study is a retrospective review of children referred to the Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (Albuquerque, NM) during a period of 2.5 years.


METHODS
Data were collected on 55 parameters related to ethnicity, demographics, diagnosis, surgical therapy, complications, and systemic comorbid conditions.


RESULTS
The ethnicity of the study population was predominantly Hispanic or Latino (62%). The majority of children (76%) were referred for upper airway obstruction. Obstructive sleep apnea and laryngomalacia were the most common disorders in these children. An otological disorder was diagnosed in 70% of the children. Complications occurred after 27% of procedures for insertion of pressure equalization (PE) tubes to treat recurrent otitis media. Systemic comorbid conditions were present in 93% of the children, and the most common was gastroesophageal reflux disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Obstructive sleep apnea and laryngomalacia were the most common reasons for referral of children with Down syndrome. Routine surgical procedures that required general anesthesia caused complications that are not common in other children. Treatment for systemic comorbid conditions should be considered as a component of therapy for otolaryngological disorders in children with Down syndrome.
Mitchell
Ron B
RB
Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. rmitchell@salud.unm.edu
Call
Ellen
E
Kelly
James
J
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications