Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Obesity

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Children with obesity are at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and residual OSA after adenotonsillectomy than those without obesity. In this session, experts from diverse geographic locations and medical disciplines will share their approach to care. Specifically, the session will discuss surgical and non-surgical management of OSA in children with obesity, the implications of obesity for perioperative care, and the risk of weight gain and OSA recurrence after sleep surgery in children with obesity. Cases will highlight clinical controversies including the role of multi-level sleep surgery and same day discharge after adenotonsillectomy for children with obesity. Attendees will hear from a pediatric bariatric surgeon with expertise in pediatric obesity. Specifically, our guest expert will discuss the recent American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for management of obesity in children and provide practical suggestions that otolaryngologists can incorporate into treating the whole patient.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Understand the range of surgical and nonsurgical OSA treatments for children with obesity and how the approach may differ from children without obesity

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Better determine which children with obesity should be admitted after adenotonsillectomy

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Counsel families of children with obesity on treatment options for weight loss and the interplay between OSA and both weight loss and weight gain

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: Dr. Reichard is a pediatric bariatric surgeon and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on obesity. Dr. Reichard is willing to fund himself to travel to the meeting to speak on the new AAP guidelines for obesity in children.