Acoustic rhinometry in pediatric sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study aimed to evaluate the use of acoustic rhinometry (AR) in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).


METHODS
Children with clinically suspected OSA underwent AR measurements followed by attended overnight polysomnography.


RESULTS
Of a total of 20 subjects (13 boys, seven girls), 15 (75%) had OSA, defined as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to five events per hour of sleep, and five had primary snoring (PS). The mean AHI was 16.79 vs. 1.96 events/h. Positional changes in airway measurement by AR were present in the OSA group, with an average decrease in nasal cavity volume from upright to supine position of 1.53 cm(3) (p = 0.027). These changes were predictive of sleep apnea (r (2) = 0.65, p = 0.035).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a marked difference between OSA and PS groups during AR measurements of the nasopharynx. Positional airway changes had been previously reported in adults with OSA and further evaluation of the airway function in pediatric OSA is warranted.
Okun
Monica N
MN
Lexington ENT, New York, NY, USA.
Hadjiangelis
Nicos
N
Green
Daniel
D
Hedli
Laura C
LC
Lee
Kelvin C
KC
Krieger
Ana C
AC
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology