Objective: To determine whether polysomnography is useful in the evaluation of readiness for decannulation in children with long-term tracheotomy.
Design: Descriptive, retrospective case series.
Setting: Tertiary care pediatric center, pediatric sleep disorders laboratory, and pediatric otolaryngology referral center.
Patients: Children (younger than 18 years) with tracheotomy undergoing polysomnography to assess their dependence on tracheotomy.
Intervention: Polysomnography in all patients; endoscopy and decannulation in those judged clinically ready.
Main outcome measures: Success of decannulation.
Results: Thirteen of 16 patients with favorable polysomnographic data were successfully decannulated.
Conclusion: Polysomnography is a useful supplement to airway endoscopy in the evaluation of readiness for decannulation in children with long-term tracheotomy and dynamic airway issues.