Resolution of diurnal incontinence and nocturnal enuresis after adenotonsillectomy in children.
OBJECTIVE
Adenotonsillar hyperplasia causes upper airway obstruction, leading to obstructive sleep apnea. We reviewed the incidence of nocturnal enuresis in a population of children with adenotonsillar hyperplasia. In addition, we investigated the rate of resolution or improvement in enuresis following surgery for relief of adenotonsillar hyperplasia.


METHODS
We studied 86 consecutive prepubertal children, 46 boys and 40 girls, who underwent adenotonsillectomy. Severity of adenotonsillar obstruction was graded on a scale of 1 to 4. A questionnaire regarding voiding problems, including nocturnal enuresis, voids per day and daytime enuresis episodes, was filled out preoperatively and postoperatively by the patients and their parents.


RESULTS
Among the 86 patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy 36 (42%) had nocturnal enuresis. In patients with nocturnal enuresis the number of episodes was significantly less after adenotonsillectomy. Overall, 12 patients (33%) had complete resolution, 11 (31%) had significant improvement and 13 (36%) showed no change. In addition, we noted a significant decrease in daytime enuresis episodes and voids per day.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with upper airway obstruction have a high rate of nocturnal enuresis that improves at twice the anticipated rate after treatment of the airway obstruction. In addition, we observed that daytime voiding dysfunction improves in these patients.
Firoozi
Farzeen
F
Division of Urology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York 12208-3499, USA. Firoozf@mail.amc.edu
Batniji
Rami
R
Aslan
Ahmet R
AR
Longhurst
Penelope A
PA
Kogan
Barry A
BA
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004775:Enuresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery