Journal Article

A Randomized Trial of Adenotonsillectomy for Childhood Sleep Apnea

Arens, Raanan, Ware, Janice, Snyder, Karen, Sprecher, Robert C, Redline, Susan, Amin, Raouf, Ellenberg, Susan S, Jones, Dwight, Hoban, Timothy, Rosen, Carol L, Gozal, David, Beebe, Dean, Marcus, Carole L, Mitchell, Ron B, Elden, Lisa, Bent, John P, Willging, Paul, Garetz, Susan L, Thomas, Nina Hattiangadi, Muzumdar, Hiren, Moore, Reneé H, Taylor, H. Gerry, Giordani, Bruno, Katz, Eliot S, Paruthi, Shalini, Chervin, Ronald D

2013

Overview

This randomized trial showed no effect of early adenotonsillectomy, as compared with watchful waiting, on the primary outcome of attention and executive functioning in children with obstructive sleep apnea. Many secondary outcomes favored early surgery. The childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cognitive and behavioral deficits. 1 The most commonly identified risk factor for the childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Thus, the primary treatment is adenotonsillectomy, which accounts for more than 500,000 procedures annually in the United States alone. 2 Nevertheless, there has been no controlled study evaluating the benefits and risks of adenotonsillectomy, as compared with watchful waiting, for the management of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT) was designed to evaluate the efficacy of early adenotonsillectomy versus watchful waiting with supportive . . .

• Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
• Subject: Adenoidectomy / Apnea / Biological and medical sciences / Child / Child Behavior / Child, Preschool / Childhood / Children / Cognitive ability / Evidence-based medicine / Executive function / Female / General aspects / Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics / Humans / Male / Measuring techniques / Medical research / Medical sciences / Obesity - complications / Oxygen - blood / Pneumology / Polysomnography / Psychology / Quality of Life / Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases / Single-Blind Method / Sleep / Sleep apnea / Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - complications / Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - psychology / Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - surgery / Sleep disorders / Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases / Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract / Tonsillectomy / Treatment Outcome / Watchful Waiting