ABSTRACT
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in children existed for a long time without being widely recognized as a clinical syndrome. Paediatric sleep physiology is not completely understood, but what is clear is that a grasp of the basic elements is important to having a full understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing. The inflammatory basis of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea may cast light on the basis of cardiovascular dysfunction in paediatric OSA, which may be subtle and clinically unrecognized in many cases. Nasopharyngeal airways can be used for the long-term management of patients with craniosynostosis and can result in significant improvements in quality of life (QOL) scores. While the majority of patients with OSA can be managed safely in a standard children's ward environment, careful consideration must be given to whether those at higher risk of respiratory compromise post-operatively need more specialized support.
