Research Needs Assessment for Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Diagnostic or Surgical Procedures

Recent concerns have been raised about the quality and safety of adenotonsillectomy, a common surgery performed to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. OSA is a risk factor for opioid-related perioperative respiratory complications including those associated with anoxic brain injury or death. Our objective was to identify controversial issues related to the care of children with OSA. A standardized Delphi consensus technique involving an interdisciplinary group of 24 pediatric OSA experts identified 3 key issues: "postoperative disposition, preoperative screening, and pain management." These topics are prime candidates for future systematic reviews and will guide Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine–related research endeavors. Accepted for publication December 19, 2017. Funding: This study was supported solely by institutional and/or departmental sources. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's website (http://ift.tt/KegmMq). Reprints will not be available from the authors. Address correspondence to Kimmo T. Murto, MD, FRCPC, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario-Ottawa Children's Treatment Center, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada. Address e-mail to kmurto@cheo.on.ca. © 2018 International Anesthesia Research Society

http://ift.tt/2F4c13V