Questionnaire and nocturnal oxymetry in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES

Draw up an evaluative approach to the diagnostic contribution of nocturnal oximetry associated with a parental questionnaire in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Analysis of a parental questionnaire on sleep patterns and oximetry recording made in children with ATH. The results of the oximetry were compared to the data gathered from the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of the 342 children (age range, 3 months to 14 years), 209 permanent snorers, 115 occasional snorers, and 18 non-snorers were identified. The proportion of positive oximetry readings varied from 31.6 to 0% and the difference was significant between the first group and the two others (p<0.001). The data were correlated for four symptoms, including snoring and sleep apnea. The absence of snoring always gave a negative oximetry reading.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of ATH, a negative questionnaire can predict that oximetry will not be useful and if necessary advise for a polysomnography for an exclusion diagnosis. In contrast, a positive questionnaire followed by a positive oximetry argues in favor of the polysomnography not being useful.