Pediatric considerations in sedation for patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

During sedation and recovery the airway of children with obstructive sleep apnea is vulnerable to collapse. This vulnerability arises from both an inherent collapsibility of the pharyngeal airway in these children and a heightened sensitivity to sedative and anesthetic agents. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic support may be required to defend pharyngeal airway patency in children with obstructive sleep apnea both during sedation and recovery.