Use of the Snoring, Trouble Breathing, Un-Refreshed questionnaire to predict perioperative respiratory adverse events in children

Study Objectives: The Snoring, Trouble Breathing, Un-Refreshed (STBUR) screening questionnaire has been validated in identifying pediatric surgical patients with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing who may be at risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. We sought to assess the performance of the STBUR questionnaire when adjusting for potential confounders such as patient comorbidities or surgical service. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of children aged 2–18 years undergoing elective procedures under general anesthesia over a 3-month period. Procedure specialties included general surgery, urology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, dentistry, and gastroenterology. Preoperative STBUR questionnaire responses and perioperative respiratory adverse events were documented prospectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to quantify associations between preoperative questionnaire responses, other potential risk factors (including age, sex, surgical specialty, comorbidities), and risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. Results: Of 555 children, 17% had a positive STBUR screen. The prevalence of perioperative respiratory adverse events with a positive questionnaire screen was significantly greater than with a negative screen (29% vs 9%, respectively; P < .001). A positive questionnaire screen was associated with a significantly increased risk of a perioperative respiratory adverse event (adjusted odds ratio 3.47 [95% confidence interval 1.53–7.84], P = .003). Conclusions: A positive screen on the STBUR questionnaire was associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events in pediatric surgical patients. The STBUR questionnaire should be considered as a routine preoperative screening tool in children undergoing elective procedures.