Comparison of classical, coblation, and combined adenoidectomy techniques in paediatric patients: a single-blind, prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adenoidectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in pediatric otolaryngological practice. This prospective study compared three different adenoidectomy techniques' intra-operative and postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients. The techniques evaluated were classical (blind curettage), coblation, and a combined approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into three groups based on the technique used: Group A, classical adenoidectomy (blind curettage); Group B, coblation adenoidectomy and Group C, combined (blind curettage + coblation) adenoidectomy. The intra-operative time, degree of bleeding, and complications during and after the operations were recorded. RESULTS: Group A had a significantly shorter operative time than the other groups. However, there was no significant difference in the mean operative time between Groups B and C. The mean amount of intra-operative bleeding differed significantly among the groups. Group B had significantly less bleeding than Group A or Group C. The amount of bleeding also differed significantly between Groups A and C. The postoperative pain scores did not differ significantly among the groups. While complications were infrequent in all groups, Group C did not exhibit a higher complication rate than Groups A and B. The absence of residual or recurrent adenoid tissue in any of the groups during long-term follow-up examinations highlights the effectiveness of all three adenoidectomy techniques in preventing adenoid regrowth. CONCLUSIONS: The combined approach, which was one of the techniques studied, demonstrated an intermediate profile in terms of operative time and intra-operative bleeding compared to the classical and coblation techniques. These findings suggest that this combined approach may be a feasible option for adenoidectomy in pediatric patients, considering its similar low incidence of postoperative complications.

Occurrence of mucosa-affecting diseases of the upper airways in middle ear cholesteatoma patients: a nationwide case-control study.

PURPOSE: Exploring a possible link between upper airway inflammation and the development of cholesteatoma by studying the association between mucosa-affecting diseases of the upper airways and cholesteatoma surgery. METHODS: This is a nationwide case-control study of 10,618 patients who underwent surgery for cholesteatoma in Sweden between 1987 and 2018. The cases were identified in the National Patient Register and 21,235 controls matched by age, sex and place of residency were included from national population registers. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the association between six types of mucosa-affecting diseases of the upper airways and cholesteatoma surgery. RESULTS: Chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis were more common in cholesteatoma patients than in controls (OR 1.5 to 2.5) as were both adenoid and tonsil surgery (OR > 4) where the strongest association was seen for adenoid surgery. No association was seen between allergic rhinitis and cholesteatoma. CONCLUSION: This study supports an association between mucosa-affecting diseases of the upper airways and cholesteatoma. Future studies should aim to investigate the mechanisms connecting mucosa-affecting diseases of the upper airways and cholesteatoma formation regarding genetic, anatomical, inflammatory and mucosa properties.

Maximal medical treatment of adenoid hypertrophy: a prospective study of preschool children.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the combined maximal medical treatment for adenoid hypertrophy in preschool children. METHODS: Sixty-four children underwent one-year combined therapy with intranasal mometasone furoate, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy. Additionally, decongestion drops were applied during scheduled breaks. RESULTS: Of the 64 treated children, 72% showed clinical improvement in adenoid symptoms while 28% did not improve and underwent surgery. These groups differed significantly in terms of the overall reduction in ailments after treatment (p < 0.001), infection rate (p < 0.001), catarrh severity (p < 0.001) and nasal patency (p < 0.001). Endoscopic examination confirmed that responders experienced, on average, a decrease of 8.4% in the adenoid/choana ratio and an improvement in mucosal coverage of the adenoid. These effects were not observed in the group of children whose parents opted for surgery after nine months of conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed new schema of long-term maximal medical treatment with the use of combined intermittent treatment of intranasal mometasone furoate and decongestion drops, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy can be attempted in patients with adenoid hypertrophy symptoms, and responders may avoid the need for surgery. The applied treatment breaks resulted in a low number of therapeutic side effects.

Assessing the efficacy of celecoxib after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials.

OBJECTIVES: Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are common surgical procedures that cause persistent pain, bleeding, and functional limitations. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of celecoxib compared with a placebo for managing post-tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy pain and other adverse events. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases from inception until July 2023. Dichotomous outcomes have been reported as risk ratios (RR) while continuous outcomes were reported using mean differences (MD). A funnel plot was drawn to investigate publication bias. RESULTS: From 1394 records identified, 6 randomised double-blind trials comprising 591 participants undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy were eligible for inclusion. A high dose (400 mg) of celecoxib was effective in decreasing the pain score for 'worst pain' after the procedure (MD: -10.98, [95% CI: -11.53, -10.42], p < .01, I2 = 0%) while a low dose (200 mg) was not significantly effective (p = 0.31). For managing other outcomes such as vomiting (RR: 1.37 [95% CI: 0.69, 2.68], p = 0.37, I2 = 67%), diarrhoea (RR: 1.41, [95% CI: 0.75, 2.64], p = .29, I2 = 42%), dizziness/drowsiness (RR: 0.90, [95% CI: 0.71, 1.15], p = .48, I2 = 0%), functional recovery time (p = .74), and headache (p = .91), there was no significant difference between the group on celecoxib and the placebo group regardless of dosage. Finally, there was no significant difference (RR: 1.02, [95% CI: 0.91, 1.15], p = .69, I2 = 0%) in the effect of the intervention on minimum bleeding, moderate bleeding, and profuse bleeding. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides robust evidence pooled from high-quality trials and raises questions about the efficacy of celecoxib for tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, challenging existing perceptions.

A prospective cohort study exploring the impact of tonsillectomy on feeding difficulties in children.

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric feeding difficulties are common, affecting up to 25% of otherwise healthy children, symptoms include food refusal, gagging, choking, and excessive mealtime duration. These symptoms are commonly described in pre-operative discussions about tonsillectomy. This prospective study explores the impact of tonsillectomy on paediatric feeding difficulties. DESIGN: This prospective cohort study invited caregivers of children undergoing tonsillectomy to complete a PediEAT questionnaire about their children's feeding behaviours, pre and post-operatively. The study was completed in two phases with 9 questions administered in phase 1 and three additional questions added for phase 2. A free text comments box was also provided. Responses were graded from 0 to 5, where 0 is 'never a problem' and 5 is 'always a problem' with eating behaviours. SETTING: The study was conducted at our institution, a tertiary paediatric ENT unit. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged between 6 months - 7 years undergoing tonsillectomy for any indication were invited to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes to the Pedi-EAT scores pre and post operatively were the main outcome measure. RESULTS: 102 participants were recruited between January 2020 and January 2022. The mean age of participants was 4.1 years, 87% had a concurrent adenoidectomy. The mean time to completion of post-operative questionnaire was 23 weeks after surgery. 9 of the 12 questions showed a statistically significant improvement in post-operative scores using a paired student t-test (p < 0.05). The most significant improvements related to 'gets tired from eating and is not able to finish' (1.49 pre-op, 0.91 post op, p < 0.01) and 'eats food that needs to be chewed' (1.4 pre-op, 0.72 post-op, p < 0.01). 13% of participants only underwent tonsillectomy and this group also showed a statistically significant improvement in fatigue during eating (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Symptoms of fatigue during eating and avoidance of food requiring mastication are most likely to improve following tonsillectomy in children.

The Analgesic Effect of a Transdermal Lappaconitine Patch Combined With Ibuprofen Suspension for Children After Adenoidectomy and Tonsillectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To study the analgesic effects and side effects of a transdermal lappaconitine (TLA) patch, ibuprofen suspension (IS), and TLA combined with IS (TLACIS) after adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The patients were randomized into three groups defined by different analgesic drug regimens: the TLA group, the IS group, and the TLACIS group. Pain scores at 2, 12, and 24 hours after surgery and adverse-event reports within the first postoperative week were collected. RESULTS: Ultimately, this study included 102 cases in the TLA group, 101 cases in the IS group, and 101 cases in the TLACIS group. At 2 hours after surgery, the pain scores of the TLA and the TLACIS groups were both significantly lower than that of the IS group (all P < .05). At 12 and 24 hours after surgery, the pain score of the TLACIS group was significantly lower than those of the TLA and IS groups (all P < .05); furthermore, the pain score of the IS group was significantly lower than that of the TLA group (P < .05). Within 1 week after the operation, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a TLA patch can speed the onset of analgesia. In terms of analgesic effects, IS alone is more advantageous than TLA alone, while the combination of TLA and IS has the best analgesic effect. No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events among the three regimens.

LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY VERSUS ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION FOR ADENOIDECTOMY IN OUTPATIENT SURGERY - SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE.

Adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy remains one of the most routinely performed surgical procedures in children. The duration of the procedure is usually less than half an hour and is done in a day surgery setting. Airway management for adenoidectomy can be especially challenging as the airway is shared between the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. The gold standard for airway management is an endotracheal tube (ETT), even though there has been an increase in the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) over the past decade. This retrospective study investigated patient data collected over a 4-year period (2016 to 2020). Data included 210 cases in a day surgery setting. We analyzed the choice of airway device and use of neuromuscular blockers and analgesics for pain management. The use of LMA was noted in 67.62% while endotracheal intubation was performed in 32.38% of cases. LMA resulted in fewer respiratory complications compared to ETT (p=0.006). The need for neuromuscular blockers was also lower in the LMA group (p=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the intraoperative dose of opioid analgesia (p=0.09). Flexible LMA is a satisfactory alternative to endotracheal intubation for outpatient pediatric adenoidectomy.

Endoscopic Evaluation after Conventional Adenoid Curettage.

Introduction Adenoidectomy is one of the most common procedures performed by otolaryngologists. Traditional adenoid curettage is performed blindly, which can result in inadequate removal of the adenoid and injury to the surrounding structures. Objective To perform transnasal endoscopic examinations to assess the nasopharynx after conventional curettage adenoidectomy. Methods The present prospective study included 100 children with a mean age of 4.2 ± 3.07 years. It is composed of two steps: conventional curettage adenoidectomy by a resident trainee; and endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx through a 0° telescope to assess adenoidal remnants, injury to the surgical field or adjacent structures, and bleeding points. Results Adenoid remnants were observed in 42% of the cases after conventional adenoid curettage in multiple locations, such as the roof of the nasopharynx over the choana (24%), the tubal tonsil (12%), the posterior pharyngeal wall (4%), and the posterior end of the nasal septum (2%). Injury to the surgical field and adjacent structures was observed in 46% of the cases (posterior pharyngeal wall: 23%; lateral pharyngeal wall: 11%; Passavant ridge: 10%; and the Eustachian tube orifice: 2%). Endoscopic bleeding was observed in 29% of the cases; 13% of the cases were from adenoid remnants, 10%, from the mucosa, and 6%, from the pharyngeal muscles. Bleeding was mild in 19% of the cases, moderate in 9%, and severe in 1%. Conclusion Endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx following conventional adenoid curettage provides important data regarding adenoid remnants, injury to the surgical field or nearby structures, and bleeding points, which aids in the provision of optimal care and in the achievement of a better outcome.

Predictors of Success of Adenoidectomy in the Treatment of Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: There is consensus for adenoidectomy as treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in children younger than 6 years but less consensus for those aged 6 years and older. The present clinical research study investigated predictors of adenoidectomy success for pediatric CRS. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 107 children who presented to an otolaryngology clinic and had an adenoidectomy for CRS after failure of maximal medical therapy. Results: The majority of sample was male (N = 63; 58.9%) with mean age of 4.88 (SD = 2.54) and mean Lund-Mackay score of 7.76 (SD = 3.87). Patients who had success with adenoidectomy were older on average [mean (M) = 5.46; SD = 2.83] than patients who failed the procedure (M = 4.36; SD = 2.40; F = 4.06, P = .047). This equated to 67.9% of children aged 6 years and older and 39.2% of children younger than 6 years succeeding with the surgery. Conclusions: Adenoidectomy is a good first-line surgery for children aged 12 years and younger, especially in the 6 to 12 years group which had a high rate of success with 68% experiencing remission of symptoms after surgery.

Comparison of classical method and microdebrider technique for adenoidectomy in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of microdebrider adenoidectomy on sleep-disordered breathing among pediatric patients with OSA. Methods: In the microdebrider group (Group I), there were 30 Japanese OSA patients consisting of 26 boys and 4 girls. For comparison, we had 15 children (13 boys and 2 girls) who underwent classical adenoidectomy (Group II). Patients in Group I were selected from a pool of 95 pediatric Japanese OSA patients and were matched by age, preoperative AHI, and Kaup index with those in Group II.Parameters such as the amount of residual adenoid tissue, bleeding, duration of the procedure, and sleep-related metrics were compared between the two groups. Results: A significant improvement in postoperative AHI was observed in Group I (p<0.05). The prevalence of AHI <1 was significantly higher in Group I compared with Group II (p<0.05). Additionally, the amount of postoperative residual adenoid was significantly less in Group I (3/30 of Grade 3 and 4 adenoid size) than in Group II (7/15, p<0.05). Furthermore, a reduction in postoperative AHI was proportionally associated with a decrease in residual adenoid. Conclusions: The newly developed microdebrider adenoidectomy technique for pediatric OSA patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy demonstrated greater accuracy and efficacy in ameliorating sleep apnea symptoms compared with the standard adenoidectomy approach.

Safety and Efficacy of the Use of Supraglottic Airway Devices in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Supraglottic airway devices (SAD) have been used in children and adolescents undergoing adenotonsillectomies under general anesthesia. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the safety and efficacy of using SADs when compared to an endotracheal tube (ETT). (2) Methods: After registering with PROSPERO, databases like PubMed, Scopus, OviD, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched using relevant keywords from the year 2000. We used RoB-2 for risk-of-bias assessment, GRADE for assessing the quality of evidence, RevMan 5.2 for qualitative meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) to corroborate the significant findings of meta-analysis. (3) Results: Out of 200 studies, 5 randomized-controlled trials fulfilled inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was moderate for laryngospasm, low for airway device failure, and very low for recovery time. The incidence of laryngospasm was comparable between SADs and ETT (RR: 0.80, 95% CI-0.36, 1.80, p = 0.59). The incidence of airway device failure was significantly higher with SADs than ETT (RR: 11.29, 95% CI: 2.73, 46.66, p = 0.0008). The postoperative recovery time was significantly less with SADs than with ETT use (MD: -4.33, 95% CI: -5.28, -3.39, p < 0.0001), which was confirmed by the TSA. (4) Conclusions: The results of this review suggests that use of SADs can provide a lesser postoperative recovery time and comparable incidence of laryngospasm, with a higher incidence of failure of SAD when compared to ETT. Use of SAD for pediatric and adolescent adenotonsillectomies should be individualized based on patient characteristics, and on the expertise of the anesthesiologist and the surgeons involved.

Correlation Between Nasal Allergy and the Number of Eosinophils in Adenoid Tissue.

To study adenoid tissue eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis. A single-centre clinical case-control prospective study with 66 subjects enrolled for the study after taking written informed consent from all the participants. All patients underwent adenoidectomy with histopathological evaluation of adenoid tissue samples for eosinophils. 36 patients (cases) with Symptoms for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) score indicative of allergic rhinitis. 30 patients (control) with SFAR scores not indicative of allergic rhinitis. All patients were evaluated for serum absolute eosinophil count and total serum immunoglobulin E (Ig-E). There was a significant relationship between allergic rhinitis and serum Ig-E levels using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test amongst case and control groups with a p-value of 0.031. Pathologically examined slides of adenoid tissue eosinophil count per 10 random high power fields in these patients showed significant results with a p-value of 0.002432, via the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Statistical analysis, shows that adenoid tissue eosinophil count and serum Ig-E levels can somewhat predict the presence of clinical features of allergic rhinitis. Based on several similar studies with similar results, allergic rhinitis can be gauged with adenoid tissue histopathology and routine evaluation should be considered as a standard of care.

Patient and Caregiver Perception of Adenoidectomies: A Non-Real-World Social Media Analysis.

Objective: To survey the social media outlets Twitter and Instagram for public posts related to adenoidectomy surgery. This study aims to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of patients and caregivers on social media, through thematic content-analysis of social media posts regarding adenoidectomy. Study Design: Non-real world qualitative study. Setting: Twitter and Instagram social media platforms. Methods: Public posts uploaded between February, 2021 and February, 2023 using the hashtags "#adenoidectomy," and "#adenoidectomyrecovery" were searched. Posts were excluded if they were unrelated to adenoidectomy or were in a non-English language. Relevant posts were stratified demographically as patient or caregiver and pre- or postoperative, and categorized into relevant themes for analysis. Outcomes were measured as the total number of posts. Results: A total of 394 relevant posts were analyzed. A significance threshold of P < 0.05 was used. Patients posted significantly more posts regarding procedure pain (P = 0.002) and concern for appearance (P = 0.048) compared to caregivers. Caregivers posted significantly (P < 0.001) more posts regarding condition awareness and were significantly (P < 0.001) more likely to spread positivity in their posts compared to patients themselves. Posts made by female caregivers were more likely to reference fear, while those made by male caregivers were more likely to provide education (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Patients may worry about appearance and mental health while caregivers are more likely to spread information and positivity. Male and female caregivers may also use social media differently. A better understanding of patient and caregiver concerns may optimize physician interaction and involvement.

Surgical Management of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Beyond Adenotonsillectomy: The Nose, Nasopharynx, and Palate.

While adenotonsillectomy is the primary treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), persistent OSA after surgery is common and may be due to residual obstruction at the nose, nasopharynx, and/or palate. Comprehensive evaluation for persistent pediatric OSA ideally includes clinical examination (with or without awake nasal endosocpy) as well as drug-induced sleep endoscopy in order to accurately identify sources of residual obstruction. Depending on the site of obstruction, some of the surgical management options include submucous inferior turbinate resection, septoplasty, adenoidectomy, and expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty.

Safety of Tonsillectomy and/or Adenoidectomy in Pediatric Patients with Prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Factor XII Deficiency.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (T&A) in pediatric patients with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and coagulation factor deficiency. Methods: A prospective study was admitted to the children undergoing T&A at our institution between October 2019 and January 2020, specifically focusing on preoperative coagulation function. Within this group, we identified 5 patients exhibiting prolonged APTT and coagulation factor deficiencies, constituting the experimental group, and 10 patients matched by gender and age with normal blood coagulation function were selected as the control group. Comparative analyses between the two groups were conducted, focusing on surgical duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, duration of hospital stay, and postoperative complications such as active bleeding across the groups. At the six-month postoperative mark, a reassessment of coagulation functions and factor assays was conducted within the experimental group. Results: No statistically significant differences were discovered in terms of surgical duration or bleeding volume when comparing the experimental subgroups with their respective control counterparts. Furthermore, there were no incidences of postoperative active bleeding observed in any of the groups. Notably, postoperative APTT values (32.7 ± 1.7s) exhibited a significant disparity compared to preoperative levels (43.7 ± 1.8s, p < 0.01). Coagulation factors demonstrated normalization, evidenced by a significant difference in postoperative Factor XII levels (40.2 ± 5.4%) compared to preoperative levels (63.1 ± 5.9%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Prolonged APTT with FXII factor deficiency does not show a significant bleeding tendency and is not a contraindication for T&A surgery. Post T&A surgery, children with abnormal coagulation function and deficient clotting factors show significant improvement compared to pre-surgery. It is important to consider that chronic inflammation in adenoids and tonsils may contribute to the prolongation of APTT and the manifestation of Factor XII deficiency.

Effects of glycopyrrolate and atropine for oral secretions and perioperative hemodynamics in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: a prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Introduction: Glycopyrrolate is commonly researched as a preoperative medication or in conjunction with cholinesterase inhibitors to counteract the lingering muscarinic effects of non-depolarizing muscarinic agents. However, studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the superiority of glycopyrrolate over other anti-cholinergic drugs, such as atropine, particularly its effect on heart rate, blood pressure (BP), and glandular secretions. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in perioperative oral secretions, hemodynamics, and recovery quality with glycopyrrolate versus those with atropine before anesthesia induction in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods: In this prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, a total of 103 children were randomly assigned to group A (n = 51, glycopyrrolate 0.005 mg/kg) or B (n = 52, atropine 0.01 mg/kg). The follow-up anesthetic induction and maintenance protocols were the same in both groups. Vital signs, duration of surgery, extubation time, degree of wetness around the vocal cords during tracheal intubation, weight of oral secretions, and perioperative complications were recorded. Results: No significant differences were observed in the degree of wetness around the vocal cords during tracheal intubation, as well as in the weight of oral secretions, duration of surgery, or extubation time, between the two groups. The intraoperative and postoperative heart rates were lower in group A than in group B (110.18 ± 10.58 vs. 114.94 ± 11.14, p = 0.028; 96.96 ± 10.81 vs. 103.38 ± 10.09, p = 0.002). The differences observed in the intraoperative and preoperative heart rates were lower in group A than in group B (23.84 ± 9.62 vs. 29.65 ± 8.75, p = 0.002). The differences observed in the postoperative and preoperative heart rates were lower in group A than in group B (10.63 ± 9.97 vs. 18.09 ± 9.39, p = 0.000). Conclusion: Glycopyrrolate showed a smoother change in heart rate than atropine during and after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, with no effect on BP or recovery quality, and did not increase oral secretions. The findings indicate that glycopyrrolate can serve as an alternative to atropine to prevent secretions in anesthesia induction for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children. Trial registration: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: ChiCTR2200063578; Date of Registration: 12/09/2022).

Adenotonsillectomy for the treatment of OSA in children with mucopolysaccharidosis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of adenotonsillectomy (ADT) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). METHODS: A systematic review were performed following the PRISMA guideline. PubMed and Embase were searched for studies regarding adenotonsillectomy for OSA in children with MPS. The MINOR Score were applied for quality assessment of the included studies. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were eligible for inclusion: fifteen were retrospective and four prospective. A total of 1406 subjects were included. The samples size varied from 2 to 336, the male to female ratio is 1.2 and mean age varied from 2.4 to 11 years. Overall, 56.2 % (IC 95%: 53.6-58.8) of the included subjects underwent ADT. MPS I and II are the two most operated types. Three studies, including 50 children, reported improvement in polysomnographic parameters after surgery. Two authors described the duration of follow-up: 8.4 and 9.8 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of children with MPS underwent ADT for the treatment of OSA, although few evidence demonstrated improvement in term of polysomnographic parameters. The two types of MPS most involved are type I and II. Considering the disease progression and anesthetic risks, multidisciplinary management may help identify the subgroup of children with MPS who benefit from ADT for the treatment of OSA.

Evaluation of Pre and Post-operative Pulmonary Artery Pressures in Children with Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy and Correlation with Chronicity: A Prospective Study on 50 Children.

Children with grade III or IV of adenotonsillar hypertrophy especially of a longer duration, may show cardiovascular changes due to mouth breathing. These changes can be detected on doppler echocardiocardiography which can be used as a screening tool. Fifty paediatric patients of grade 3 and 4 adenotonsillar hypertrophy underwent adenotonsillar resection after a pre-operative work up which included doppler echocardiography to measure pulmonary artery pressures. A post-operative doppler echocardiography was done after three months. 11 children (22%) showed deranged pulmonary artery pressure values with increased mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PSAP) on preoperative doppler echocardiography, and 2 out of these 11 children had Pulmonary Artery Hypertension. A significant (p < 0.001) improvement was noted in pulmonary artery pressure values (MPAP and PSAP returned to normal) after adenotonsillectomy in 3-month postoperative echocardiography. Also, a statistically significant correlation was obtained between chronicity of symptoms and raised pulmonary artery pressures. Our study concluded that these children with chronic untreated upper airway obstructive symptoms get predisposed to potential cardiac complications. And these grave consequences can be easily prevented by a timely intervention.

The impact of adenotonsillectomy on healthcare utilization in children with obstructive sleep apnea: Experience of an integrated medical model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies suggest that children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased healthcare utilization patterns in comparison to matched controls. However, the effect of adenotonsillectomy (AT) on utilization patterns in these children is poorly understood. Additionally, no previous studies have compared the effect of AT on healthcare utilization patterns across different OSA severity groups. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to assess the effects of surgical treatment on the level of healthcare utilization among children with OSA at a large integrated multicenter healthcare system. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed of children aged 3-12 diagnosed with OSA via an attended polysomnogram (PSG) between December 2016 and February 2019. Demographic variables including age (at time of PSG), body mass index (BMI), race, and ethnicity were obtained. Variables for healthcare utilization were assessed for 12 months prior to PSG, and for 12 months after PSG (or after AT, delayed for the first 30 days after surgery to account for surgery-related visits). Healthcare utilization variables assessed included the total number of outpatient visits, inpatient, and emergency department (ED) visits, visits involving diagnostic codes associated with upper respiratory infection (URI), otitis media (OM), and allergic rhinitis (AR), prescription data involving intranasal steroids or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), and communication data such as secure message load and specialty referrals. Repeated measure linear difference-in-difference (D-I-D) models were used to assess the causal impact of AT on healthcare utilization outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed using modeling with a Poisson distribution and as an unadjusted model, with statistical significance set to p < 0.05. RESULTS: Analysis elicited 577 children identified with OSA. Of these, 336 (58.2 %) underwent observation while 241 (41.8 %) underwent AT. The mean age was 6.4 years, with a slight male predominance (60.5 %). Analysis of baseline healthcare utilization patterns revealed that the treatment group had a significantly higher number of baseline inpatient/ED visits and OM visits in comparison to the observation group, but no differences in regards to baseline outpatient visits, or in visits involving URI or AR. Analysis of the entire OSA cohort via D-I-D modelling showed a significantly larger reduction in outpatient visits, secure messages, specialty referrals, and the use of intranasal steroid and LTRA in the treatment group compared to the observation group. Stratification of children based on OSA severity showed that the significant differences in healthcare utilization attributed to surgical treatment were primarily driven by the severe OSA group. Children with severe OSA who underwent AT showed significant reductions in most variables including outpatient visits, inpatient/ED visits, and OM visits. Alternatively, the only significant reductions in healthcare utilization among children with mild OSA treated with AT were in AR visits, intranasal steroid use, and LTRA use. Pattern changes among children with moderate OSA compared similarly to those with mild OSA. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge this study represents the largest available study assessing the impact of AT on healthcare utilization in children with OSA that also considers the effect of OSA severity on utilization patterns. AT appears to decrease healthcare utilization patterns, particularly in children with severe OSA. Alternatively, children with mild or moderate OSA treated with AT had only modest reductions in healthcare utilization patterns.