title: Long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea: protocol for a systematic review.
abstract: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most important anatomical factor associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adenotonsillectomy as the first line of treatment. AT can reduce the apnoea hypopnoea index; however, its effect on long-term outcomes remains unclear.
  
  
  
  We will conduct an electronic search for randomised controlled trials in MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and EMBASE. We will also identify literature by reviewing the references included in the selected studies and relevant reviews, screening through important scientific conferences, and searching for ongoing trials in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Two researchers will independently undertake selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of the risk of bias of included studies. We will estimate pooled risk ratios for dichotomous data, and mean difference or standardised mean difference for continuous outcomes. A random-effects model will be used for meta-analyses. Data synthesis and other analyses will be conducted using RevMan V.5.3 software.
  
  
  
  No ethics approval is considered necessary. The results of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and social networks.
  
  
  
  CRD42015022102.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors: Felipe
authors: 0000-0002-8338-0488
authors: F
authors: Damiani
authors: Evidence-Based Healthcare Program, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Department of Internal Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Epistemonikos foundation.
authors: Gabriel
authors: 0000-0003-2435-0710
authors: G
authors: Rada
authors: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors: Juan Cristóbal
authors: JC
authors: Gana
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Pulmonology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Faculty of Medicine, Sleep Medicine Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors: Pablo E
authors: PE
authors: Brockmann
authors: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors: Gigliola
authors: G
authors: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012107:Research Design; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D014068:Tonsillectomy
keywords: ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY; SLEEP MEDICINE