ABSTRACT
In children, only a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are performed in suspected sleep apnea cases. A UPPP is not performed until the effects of those procedures have been evaluated.
4. POST-OPERATIVE CARE
Patients with milder OSA (RDI < 40, lowest O2 saturation greater than 85%) are usually taken care of after surgery on the ward; a pulse oximeter is required. Patients with more severe sleep apnea or cardiac disease may be placed in an intensive care unit in order to provide better monitoring in the immediate post-operative period. Each case is evaluated on its own merits but routine placement of all patients in the ICU is not done (12).
