Multiple drug-induced sleep endoscopy in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: Obstruction patterns and outcomes
Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 2025
Children who continue to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy (AT) often undergo drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) to identify airway blockages and guide additional surgery. In this study of 122 children, 27 (22%) required more than one DISE-directed procedure. Most children had multiple areas of obstruction, especially at the epiglottis and adenoids during repeat procedures. Children with higher body mass index (BMI) tended to need repeat surgeries sooner and showed more complex obstruction patterns. These findings highlight the importance of early, personalized treatment planning—particularly for children who are younger, have higher BMI, or exhibit other medical conditions—and suggest that a single surgery may not fully resolve persistent OSA.
Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Patro A, Wu J, Davis S, Lipscomb B, Zhao S, Patel K, Wootten C, Whigham AS. Multiple drug-induced sleep endoscopy in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: Obstruction patterns and outcomes. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2025. doi:10.1177/00034894251381169