Respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy in high-risk children with obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective cohort study

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 1%-4% of children; adenotonsillectomy is an effective treatment. Mortality/severe brain injury occurs among 0.6/10 000 adenotonsillectomies; in children, 60% are secondary to airway/respiratory events. Earlier studies identified that children aged <2 years, extremes of weight, with co-morbidities of craniofacial, neuromuscular, cardiac/respiratory disease, or severe OSA are at high risk for adverse post-operative respiratory events (AE). We aimed to: Firstly, investigate which risk factors were associated with AEs either in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), or both in this population. Secondly, we investigated factors associated with post-operative PICU AE despite no event in the PACU in order to predict need of post-operative PICU after their PACU stay. Methods Retrospective study of children admitted to the PICU after adenotonsillectomy between 08/2006-09/2015. Demographics, risk factors, and occurrence of AE (oxygen saturation <92, stridor, bronchospasm, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, re-intubation) were recorded. Results During the studied time period 4029 tonsil/adenoid procedures were performed in 3997 children. 179, admitted to the PICU post-operatively, met criteria for analysis. PICU AEs occurred in 59%: 44%-83% in any particular risk category. PACU AEs occurred in 42%. Of those with PACU events: 92% suffered AEs in the PICU; however, 35% of those without a PACU AE still suffered a PICU AE. Conclusions Among high-risk children undergoing TA, absence of adverse events in PACU during a 2-hour observation period does not predict absence of subsequent AEs in the PICU.