[Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndromes in children. Therapeutic results].

43 children with a clinical suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea were studied. All children underwent clinical examination and a standardised questionnaire was completed by their parents in order to investigate the principal nocturnal and diurnal symptoms present. A sleep study was performed. In addition to methods designed to identify the stage of sleep (EEG, EOG, EMG), this included recording of nasal and buccal airflow, thoracic and abdominal respiratory movements and blood gas analysis. 38 children has recordings during their afternoon nap, and 4 children during the night. Tonsillar hypertrophy was the principal etiology responsible for nocturnal respiratory disorders (33 cases). In addition, other etiologies were demonstrated: Pierre Robin syndrome, cranio-facial stenosis, laryngomalacia, Prader-Willi syndrome and Arnold Chiari malformation. Surgery was performed in 31 children: 22 tonsillectomies with or without adenoidectomy, 4 uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasties with tonsillectomy, 3 epiglottoplasties and 2 staphylorrhaphies. Long-term results were studied clinically and in 11 cases by polysomnographic recording.