Outcomes and quality of life following adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing in children

Purpose: To summarize current knowledge of the outcome of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Results: The success rate of T&A for SDB as measured on the basis of objective criteria using polysomnography ranges from 79 to 92%. Dramatic improvements in quality of life after T&A for SDB have been shown in a number of studies and these improvements are maintained up to 2 years after surgery. Significant improvements that are maintained in the long term are also seen in behavioral and neurocognitive parameters following T&A for SDB. Not surprisingly, total health care costs are reduced by one third following T&A mostly because of a reduction in upper respiratory tract infections. Conclusions: T&A is associated with improvements in polysomnography, behavior and quality of life in children with SDB. Improved health in these children leads to a reduction in health care utilization.