Should Young Children with Sleep Apnea Undergo Adenotonsillectomy?

Only if obstructive sleep apnea is more than mild or impairs quality of life.

Whether to recommend adenotonsillectomy versus watchful waiting for young children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often a difficult decision. To address this issue, researchers at a single center in Sweden randomized 60 otherwise healthy children (ages 2–5 years at first polysomnogram) with mild or moderate OSA to adenotonsillectomy or watchful waiting. Severity of apnea/hypoxia (measured with the obstructive apnea-hypoxia index [OAHI]), clinical symptoms, and quality of life (measured with the OSA-18 questionnaire) were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. Mild OSA was defined as an (OAHI) score ≥2 and <5, moderate OSA as a score ≥5 and <10.

At 6 months, OAHI scores had decreased in both the adenotonsillectomy and watchful waitin…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Should Young Children with Sleep Apnea Undergo Adenotonsillectomy?

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Reviewing Author