Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Neuropsychological and behavioral functioning in children with and without obstructive sleep apnea referred for

Bruno Giordani1, Elise K Hodges, Kenneth E Guire

  • 1Neuropsychology Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-0716, USA. giordani@umich.edu

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|June 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT) showed behavioral and cognitive difficulties, with those without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) exhibiting more issues than those with OSA. Further research is needed to understand these unexpected findings in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuropsychology

Background:

  • Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is a common pediatric surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and recurrent tonsillitis.
  • Children with OSA often exhibit behavioral and cognitive challenges.
  • The impact of OSA on cognitive function in children undergoing AT requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare behavioral, cognitive, and sleep measures in children with and without OSA undergoing AT.
  • To identify differences in outcomes between children with OSA (AT/OSA+) and those without OSA (AT/OSA-) scheduled for AT.
  • To explore potential reasons for counterintuitive findings regarding OSA severity and cognitive outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 27 healthy controls, 40 children with OSA (AT/OSA+), and 27 children without OSA (AT/OSA-) scheduled for AT.
  • Utilized parental ratings for behavior, sleep problems, and snoring.
  • Administered cognitive tests assessing attention, visuospatial problem solving, memory, and arithmetic.

Main Results:

  • Children undergoing AT (both with and without OSA) demonstrated more behavioral and cognitive difficulties than healthy controls.
  • Children without OSA (AT/OSA-) showed larger and more consistent differences compared to controls than children with OSA (AT/OSA+).
  • Worse outcomes were not clearly demonstrated for the AT/OSA+ group compared to other groups, contrary to expectations.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric AT patients exhibit significant behavioral and cognitive impairments.
  • The study highlights unexpected findings where children without OSA undergoing AT showed greater deficits than those with OSA.
  • More sophisticated methodologies are crucial to understand the pathophysiology of childhood sleep-disordered breathing and its cognitive sequelae.

More Related Videos

CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults05:07

CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults

Published on: November 6, 2019

Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue07:38

Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue

Published on: June 14, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Tonsillitis I: Introduction01:30

Tonsillitis I: Introduction

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two lymphoid tissue masses at the back of the throat. This condition can cause discomfort and irritation in the throat.
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
Sleep Apnea01:21

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
Chronic Pharyngitis01:23

Chronic Pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis refers to persistent inflammation of the pharyngial mucosa.
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Tonsillitis II: Management01:26

Tonsillitis II: Management

This lesson will focus on the different treatment options for managing tonsillitis, which typically depend on the cause and severity.
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required