Risks and benefits of adenotonsillectomy for children with Down syndrome

A questionnaire survey of 74 parents of children with Down syndrome was conducted. Results indicated that adenotonsillectomy benefited their children by eliminating or reducing the symptoms of snoring, sleep apnea, nasal drainage, and mouth breathing. On the basis of parental responses, it appears that in the absence of nasal obstruction, adenotonsillectomy fails to improve drooling or tongue protrusion. Adenoid tissue is physiologically important to the child with Down syndrome and its removal can result in hypernasality. Two children in the survey sample who underwent adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy developed this complication. They were given complete speech and language testing and evaluated with cinefluoroscopy. Both structural and functional causes of hypernasality were identified. Structural abnormalities included a high-arched short hard palate and a short soft palate. Hypotonia, slowed motor learning, and oral motor developmental delay were confounding functional factors in these patients. The incidence of postoperative hypernasality found in these patients is higher than in the general population and should be an important consideration before performing an adenoidectomy.