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Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a group of conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Patients with FASD experience a variety of neuropsychological symptoms resulting from central nervous system impairment. Little is known about sleep disorders associated with PAE. The objective of this study was to investigate sleep problems related to FASD. Methods Forty patients (median age 8 years (6; 11)) diagnosed with FASD and forty typically developing children (median age 10 years (8; 13)) were recruited for the 1st phase of the study. In the 1st phase, the screening of sleep problems was performed with Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) filled in by a caregiver. Those of the FASD group who scored above 41 points were qualified to the 2nd phase of the study and had an in-lab attended polysomnography (PSG) performed. The measurements consisted of electroencephalogram, electrooculograms, chin and tibial electromyogram, electrocardiogram, ventilatory monitoring, breathing effort, pulse oximetry, snoring and body position. Their results were compared to PSG laboratory reference data. Results The number of participants with sleep disturbances was markedly higher in the FASD group as compared to typically developing children (55% vs. 20%). The age-adjusted odds ratio for a positive result in CSHQ was 4.31 (95% CI: 1.54–12.11; p = 0.005) for FASD patients as compared to the control group. Significant differences between the FASD as compared to the typically developing children were observed in the following subscales: sleep onset delay, night wakings, parasomnias, sleep disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness. Children from the FASD group who underwent PSG experienced more arousals during the sleep as compared with the PSG laboratory reference data. The respiratory indices in FASD group appear higher than previously published data from typically developing children. Conclusion The results support the clinical observation that sleep disorders appear to be an important health problem in individuals with FASD. In particular distorted sleep architecture and apneic/hypopneic events need further attention.

BackgroundFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a group of conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Patients with FASD experience a variety of neuropsychological symptoms resulting from central nervous system impairment. Little is known about sleep disorders associated with PAE. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characterize sleep problems among individuals with FASD.Methods40 patients from FASD diagnostic center (median age 8 years (6; 11)) diagnosed with one of the FASD diagnosis and 40 patients from the control group (median age 10 years (8; 13)) participated in the study. In the 1st phase, the screening of sleep problems was performed with Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) filled in by a caregiver. Those who scored above 41 points were qualified to the 2nd phase of the study in which in-lab attended polysomnography (PSG) was performed. The measurements consisted of electroencephalographic channels, left and right electrooculograms, chin electromyogram, left and right tibialis electromyogram, electrocardiogram, ventilatory monitoring, breathing effort, pulse oximetry, snoring and body position.ResultsThe number of participants with sleep disturbances was markedly higher in the study group as compared to controls (55% vs. 20%). The age-adjusted odds ratio for a positive result in CSHQ was 4.31 (95% CI: 1.54-12.11; p=0.005) for FASD patients as compared to the control group. Significant differences between the study and control groups were observed in the following subscales: sleep onset delay, night wakings , parasomnias , sleep disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness. In PSG children from the FASD group and children from the control group experienced more arousals during the sleep than the children from the laboratory control group. ). There were no significant differences in comparison of respiratory indexes between FASD and control groups although indices in both groups were higher than previously published data for a normal population.ConclusionSleep disorders are more common among individuals with FASD than among healthy children. As distorted sleep can affect daily performance and worsen neurodevelopmental issues, it is vital for the pediatricians and other FASD specialists to include the question about sleep in the anamnesis.

The aim of this study is the assessment the occurence of facial nerve canal (Fallopian canal) dehiscence in patients operated due to chronic medial otitis (depending on the location and type of inflammatory lesions) and in patients operated due to otosclerosis. Facial nerve paresis in patients with dehiscence found during surgery was also assessed.The study group consisted of 456 patients operated at the Department of Otolaryngology at the University Hospital in Krakow, 359 due to chronic otitis media and 97 due to otosclerosis. Facial nerve canal dehiscence was found during surgery in 26 patients (6% of operated patients) more frequently in men.In most cases (54%) dehiscence was observed in patients with chronic medial otitis with cholesteatoma (27% with choleseatoma and 27% with cholestatoma and granulation), and equally (23% each) dehiscences were observed in patients with granulation and even in patients with otosclerosis and chronic simple otitis media. In over than half (54%) of patients with dehiscence inflammatory lesions involved all the middle ear spaces, in 15% the tympanic cavity, attic and antrum while in 4% of patients inflammatory lesions were limited to the tympanic cavity, attic or antrum.The facial canal nerve dehiscence is observed in majority in patients with cholestatoma and granulation, especially in tympanic region. In some cases its coexistence with circuit canals dehiscence.

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