Impact of adenotonsillectomy on behavior in children with sleep-disordered breathing.
OBJECTIVE
Children with sleep-disordered breathing may experience behavioral and learning problems such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity. The aim of this study was to measure the impact of adenotonsillectomy on sleep-related adverse events and behavioral problems in children with sleep-disordered breathing.


METHODS
This prospective and interventional study enrolled 40 sleep-disordered breathing children (mean age, 8.4+/-1.6 years) with hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids. All patients completed two polysomnographies, tests of variables of attention (TOVAs), and Child Behavior Checklists, one at baseline and the other 6 months after adenotonsillectomy.


RESULTS
The apnea-hypopnea index (P<.001), TOVA scores (P<.001), and 8 of 9 individual domains of the Child Behavior Checklist scores (P<.05) significantly improved after surgery. However, the change in the apnea-hypopnea index was not negatively correlated with TOVA score (r=-0.17, P=.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Adenotonsillectomy could significantly improve behavior (TOVA) scores, but the improvement may not simply be attributable to changes in sleep apnea events.
Li
Hsueh-Yu
HY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan. hyli38@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Huang
Yu-Shu
YS
Chen
Ning-Hung
NH
Fang
Tuan-Jen
TJ
Lee
Li-Ang
LA
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome