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Published on: December 6, 2016
Outcome of adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children
Jin Ye1, Hui Liu, Ge-hua Zhang
1Department of Sleep Study, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Adenotonsillectomy improves sleep apnea in children, but persistent cases require further study. This surgery enhances polysomnography (PSG) and quality of life (QOL) outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Disorders
Background:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) significantly impacts children's health and quality of life.
- Adenotonsillectomy is a primary surgical intervention for pediatric OSAS.
- Evaluating surgical outcomes using objective measures like polysomnography (PSG) and subjective reports like quality-of-life (QOL) instruments is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of adenotonsillectomy in treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children.
- To analyze changes in polysomnography (PSG) parameters and quality of life (QOL) following the procedure.
- To identify risk factors associated with persistent OSAS after surgery.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 84 children (4-14 years) diagnosed with OSAS via overnight PSG underwent adenotonsillectomy.
- Postoperative PSG and Obstructive Sleep Apnea 18-Item Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (OSA-18) surveys were administered.
- Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were employed to evaluate outcomes and identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- Adenotonsillectomy significantly reduced the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 24.6 to 3.8 episodes per hour.
- Postoperative PSG normalization ranged from 69.0% to 86.9%, with 30% of severe cases showing persistent OSAS.
- Obesity and high preoperative AHI were identified as risk factors for persistent OSAS post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Adenotonsillectomy demonstrates significant improvements in PSG metrics, behavior, and QOL for children with OSAS.
- The surgery does not resolve OSAS in all pediatric patients, particularly those with severe preoperative conditions.
- Further research is needed to explore the efficacy of additional therapeutic options for unresolved cases.
Objectives:
We evaluated the outcome of adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children using polysomnography (PSG) data and a quality-of-life (QOL) instrument.
Methods:
We enrolled children (4 to 14 years of age) who had OSAS diagnosed by overnight PSG and who underwent both adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy between January 2003 and February 2008. All of them had completed postoperative PSG and a paired Obstructive Sleep Apnea 18-Item Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (OSA-18) survey. The statistical analyses were performed with a statistical software package.
Results:
The study included 84 children with a mean age of 7.1 years. The mean preoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) for the study population was 24.6, and the mean postoperative AHI was 3.8 episodes per hour. The percentage of children who had normal PSG parameters after adenotonsillectomy ranged from 69.0% to 86.9% because of fluctuation of the criteria used to define OSAS. Nine children (30%) with severe preoperative OSAS had persistent OSAS (an AHI of at least (5) after surgery. Improvements in QOL were comparable in the cured and not-cured groups (p > 0.05). Risk factors for persistent OSAS were obesity and a high preoperative AHI, on multiple logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions:
Adenotonsillectomy is associated with improvements in PSG, behavior, and QOL in children with OSAS. However, it may not resolve OSAS in all children. The efficacy and role of additional therapeutic options require more study.
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