Post-operative high dependency unit beds are often requested for patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea. This study evaluated the utilisation of high dependency unit beds for such cases at our institution, a paediatric tertiary referral centre.

A retrospective case note review of patients admitted to the high dependency unit following adenotonsillar surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea, over a two-year period, was performed.

Sixty-six cases were identified. Thirty-nine patients underwent pre-operative overnight pulse oximetry; of these, 30 patients had desaturations noted. Seventeen patients had significant post-operative desaturations. These were predicted in all 11 patients who had undergone pre-operative pulse oximetry. The remaining six had not undergone pre-operative pulse oximetry. Nineteen patients required high dependency unit care; eight had experienced post-operative desaturations.

High dependency unit care may be required following adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea. In this study, pre-operative overnight pulse oximetry had 100 per cent sensitivity in predicting post-operative desaturations, and may therefore aid the appropriate utilisation of high dependency unit beds for patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea.