Oximetry in children with severe obstructive sleep apnoea
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective study of oximetry in children following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
IRAS ID
212110
Contact name
Heather Elphick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 0 days
Research summary
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to recurrent falls in oxygen levels and disturbance to sleep. OSA occurs in 1-4% of children and is most commonly caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, at its peak between the ages of 2 and 6 years. Untreated, children with OSA can fail to gain weight, have problems with concentration at school and can develop heart failure.
Adenotonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the adenoids and tonsils, is the recommended treatment for OSA in children. It is successful in managing symptoms in the majority of cases. Adenotonsillectomy is a routine procedure, however there are well known risks including worsening upper airway obstruction and fluid accumulation in the lungs, for which treatment ranges from a simple adjustment to the patient’s sleeping position or administration of supplemental oxygen to supportive mechanical ventilation.
A guideline published by the Royal College of Surgeons in 2009 recommended that children with severe OSA should be observed on a critical care unit post-operatively. Many hospitals adopted this policy but this led to cancellation of operations due to lack of bed availability on critical care units.
An audit within our Trust showed that the incidence of post-operative complications is low and recommended that patients should be cared for by a designated nurse on a surgical ward. The audit, however, did not look at children with severe OSA. These recommendations therefore have not been adopted.
We have designed this study to monitor children's oxygen levels along with any respiratory problems during and after the surgery for OSA. The study will look at a group of children with mild OSA and a group with severe OSA. The study will be undertaken by a medical student as part of a BMedSci project.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1783
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion