Randomised trial showed no difference in behavioural symptoms between surgical methods treating paediatric...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in children.
• Previous studies showed no difference between adenotonsillectomy (ATE) and adenotonsillotomy (ATT) for respiratory and quality of life outcomes.
• Behavioral symptoms are a key concern in pediatric OSA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of ATE versus ATT on behavioral symptoms in children with OSA.
• To compare behavioral symptom changes using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing ATE and ATT in children aged 2-6 years with OSA.
• Parents completed the SDQ preoperatively and 1 year post-surgery.
• Polysomnography was used to confirm OSA diagnosis.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in total SDQ scores were found between the ATE and ATT groups at follow-up (P=0.09).
• The overall cohort demonstrated a significant improvement in SDQ scores post-surgery (P=0.0002).
• SDQ data was collected from 87% preoperatively and 86% postoperatively.

Conclusions:

• Adenotonsillotomy (ATT) is a viable, conservative treatment option for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Both ATT and ATE lead to significant improvements in behavioral symptoms in children with OSA.
• Further research may explore long-term behavioral outcomes.