Objective: To overcome very few facilities available for polysomnography, a portable device of polygraphy was introduced into home monitoring for the assessment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children.
Methods: Forty-eight children (aged 2-11) presenting with snoring and sleep apnea were subjected to home monitoring. Sleeptester™ (Fukuda Lifetech, Japan) was used for this purpose, which was equipped with 5 channels for oronasal airflow, thoracoabdominal effort, snoring, body position, and oximetry (SpO2). Sensors were placed by guardians, and they were requested to attend their children as long as possible during a night. Results were analyzed manually by sleep technologists. Adenotonsillectomy was performed in all 48 children, and the same monitoring was utilized postoperatively.
Results: The mean duration of monitoring was 460 ± 172 min. (Mean ± S.D.) in the preoperative test and 471 ± 126 min. in the postoperative test. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 20.6 ± 16.6 and 4.4 ± 2.1, respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001). The lowest SpO2 value was 76.7 ± 17.1% preoperatively and 80.8 ± 14.6% postoperatively, demonstrating no significant difference (p = 0.16)
Conclusion: Attended home monitoring by guardians using a portable device can be useful in the perioperative assessment of pediatric OSAS.