Utility of preoperative cardiac evaluation in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of clinically relevant findings during cardiac evaluations of pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing adenotonsillectomy (TA), and to determine the association between cardiac findings and postoperative respiratory complications.

Design: Retrospective medical chart review.

Patients: Pediatric patients aged 10 months to 15 years who underwent both echocardiography and polysomnography (PSG) within 6 months prior to TA for OSA from April 2007 through April 2011.

Main Outcome Measures: Two pediatric cardiologists independently reviewed echocardiographic studies for evidence of cardiovascular disease. Patients were stratified based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) severity (1-5, >5-10, and >10). These groups were compared according to demographic, electrocardiographic (ECG), and echocardiographic values, and postoperative respiratory complications.

Results: The medical charts of 57 of 900 patients identified were reviewed following exclusion of those with congenital cardiac abnormalities. The AHI groupings did not differ demographically. No clinically relevant abnormalities were identified on the echocardiogram of any patient. There was a statistically significant association between increased AHI and the appearance of postoperative respiratory complications (P < .05). Indicators of myocardial hypertrophy, such as left ventricular mass index, were not significantly related to AHI in contrast to previously published studies. No echocardiographic or ECG findings were identified that were associated with increased number of postoperative respiratory complications or OSA severity based on AHI.

Conclusions: The lack of clinically relevant findings during preoperative cardiac evaluations suggests that aggressive cardiac workup in pediatric patients with OSA may not be indicated unless dictated by comorbidities. Consistent with results in prior studies, preoperative AHI can identify patients at risk for respiratory complications following TA.