The effect of adenotonsillectomy on oxygen saturation in children with sleep breathing disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on the oxygen saturation measures by nocturnal pulse oximetry in children with sleep breathing disorders (SBD).


METHODS
A non-controlled clinical trial was performed. Thirty-one children with suspected SBD and a clinical indication for adenotonsillectomy were recruited. All of them underwent overnight oxygen saturation monitoring before and after surgery.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven patients completed the study. The mean age was 5.2+/-1.8 years. Eighteen (66.7%) were male. The most prevalent symptoms were: snoring (100%), respiratory pauses (96.8%), nocturnal mouth breathing (96.8%), restless sleep (80%) and drooling (74.1%). Twenty-three children (85.2%) presented grade 3 or 4 tonsillar hyperplasia. There was a significant improvement in the postoperative oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (0.65; 0.5-1.3) compared with the preoperative index (1.63; 1.1-2.4) (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adenotonsillectomy improved the oxygen saturation measures by nocturnal pulse oximetry in children with sleep breathing disorders.
Arrarte
Jaime
J
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Pos-graduate Program, Brazil. macjames@terra.com.br
Lubianca Neto
José F
JF
Fischer
Gilberto B
GB
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012913:Snoring / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery
D010100:Oxygen