Personalized surgery for sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Personalized Surgery in Children with Down Syndrome (TOPS-DS)
This trial will see if using sleep endoscopy to guide personalized airway surgery helps children with Down syndrome who have obstructive sleep apnea.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10972917 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins, they would be randomly assigned to either the usual adenotonsillectomy or a personalized surgical plan guided by drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). DISE uses a small scope while the child is sedated to watch exactly where the airway narrows or collapses. Surgeons then tailor additional procedures based on those observations rather than using a one-size-fits-all operation. Children will be followed after surgery to track sleep breathing, symptoms, and recovery over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with Down syndrome who have diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and are being considered for surgical treatment (typically pediatric patients referred for airway surgery).
Not a fit: Children without Down syndrome, adults, or kids whose OSA is mild and managed without surgery or who cannot undergo anesthesia are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the personalized approach could reduce persistent OSA after surgery and improve sleep and breathing in children with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Several small case series suggest DISE-directed personalized surgery can help children with Down syndrome, but no prior randomized trials have confirmed this approach.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lam, Derek J — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Lam, Derek J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.