POLYSOMNOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF READINESS FOR DECANNULATION IN CHILDREN

Objective: To determine whether polysomnography is useful in the evalu ation of readiness for decannulation in children with long-term trache otomy. Design: Descriptive, retrospective case series. Setting: Tertia ry care pediatric center, pediatric sleep disorders laboratory, and pe diatric otolaryngology referral center. Patients: Children (younger th an 18 years) with tracheotomy undergoing polysomnography to assess the ir dependence on tracheotomy. Intervention: Polysomnography in all pat ients; endoscopy and decannulation in those judged clinically ready. M ain Outcome Measures: Success of decannulation. Results: Thirteen of 1 6 patients with favorable polysomnographic data were successfully deca nnulated. Conclusion: Polysomnography is a useful supplement to airway endoscopy in the evaluation of readiness for decannulation in childre n with long-term tracheotomy and dynamic airway issues.