Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children: Surgery Improves Right Ventricular Cardiac Functions

Swati Sharma1, Jagdeep S Thakur1, Payal Gupta1

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT), Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.

Clinical Pediatrics
|April 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Surgical treatment for adenotonsillar hypertrophy significantly improves children's right ventricular function compared to conservative methods. Surgery offers better symptom resolution and cardiac parameter improvements, reducing cardiovascular risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Adenotonsillar hypertrophy can impact pediatric cardiovascular health, specifically affecting right ventricular function.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of surgical versus conservative treatment for adenotonsillar hypertrophy on right ventricular functions in children.
  • To evaluate the impact on cardiac parameters over a six-month follow-up period.

Main Methods:

  • An interventional study involving 50 children randomized into medical and surgical groups.
  • Cardiac parameters were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

  • The surgical group showed 88% symptom resolution by 6 months, significantly higher than the medical group (36%).
  • Significant improvements in echocardiographic parameters (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular outflow tract systolic excursion, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary flow acceleration time) were observed in the surgical group compared to the medical group.
  • The medical group showed minimal improvement, primarily in right ventricular outflow tract systolic excursion.

Conclusions:

  • Adenotonsillar hypertrophy negatively affects right ventricular function.
  • Surgical intervention leads to superior improvement in right ventricular function and symptom resolution compared to conservative management.
  • Prioritizing surgery for adenotonsillar hypertrophy may mitigate cardiovascular risks in children.
Abstract

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