Pediatrics

Sleep-disordered breathing common after newborn myelomeningocele repair

January 26, 2026

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was common in neonates with myelomeningocele and wasn’t independently associated with fetal vs. postnatal surgical repair in this nine-center, prospective observational study. Infants born at >30 weeks’ gestation underwent a 10-hour bedside polysomnogram at ≥35 weeks’ postmenstrual age before discharge. Overall, 53% had SDB (median apnea–hypopnea index [AHI], 22.5). Unadjusted analyses showed higher AHI after fetal vs. postnatal repair (median AHI 29 vs. 19; P=0.008), but in propensity-adjusted models, prematurity—rather than surgical timing—was independently associated with SDB severity. Hindbrain herniation, lesion level, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt need didn’t predict AHI, and supplemental oxygen use was common in both groups.

Clinical takeaway: Newborns after myelomeningocele repair should be closely monitored for sleep-disordered breathing, with a low threshold for sleep evaluation and early respiratory intervention when abnormalities are detected.

Source:

Shellhaas RA, et al. (2026, January 23). Pediatrics. Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Newborns After Myelomeningocele Repair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41570998/