Understanding how breathing muscles work in children with sleep apnea

Plain-English translation of NCT07380321 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated February 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

Researchers are studying how a breathing muscle called the diaphragm works in children who have obstructive sleep apnea—a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep. They will use ultrasound (the same safe imaging tool used during pregnancy) to measure how well this muscle functions before and after surgery. This test helps doctors understand how sleep apnea affects the body.

Sleep apnea in children can affect how well their breathing muscles work, but doctors don't yet fully understand these effects. By measuring the diaphragm with ultrasound before and after surgery, researchers hope to learn more about how this condition changes the body and how surgery helps.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have a child between ages 1 and 12 years old
your child is scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia
your child is in generally good health (ASA physical status I or II)
you are willing to fill out a sleep questionnaire about your child's symptoms
you can give written permission for your child to participate

You likely don't qualify if…

your child has a neuromuscular disease or weakness condition
your child is taking medications that affect muscle function
your child has a paralyzed diaphragm
your child's health status makes surgery too risky (ASA physical status III or IV)
your child has a body mass index greater than 35 kg/m²

What participation looks like

Your child will have ultrasound scans of the breathing muscle done before surgery and again after surgery—both are quick, painless, and done while lying down. A parent fills out a short questionnaire about your child's sleep habits before the procedure. Your child will receive the same standard anesthesia and surgical care as any child having the planned surgery; the study simply adds safe ultrasound measurements to see how the breathing muscle is working.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 6, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Turkey (Türkiye)

Istanbul University, Department of Anesthesiology, Istanbul, Fatih