adeno-tonsillectomy in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

Conditions: Obstructive Sleep Disordered Breathing

Summary: the aim of the study is to evaluate adenoidectomy with bilateral partial tonsillectomy compared with adenoidectomy with classical unilateral complete tonsillectomy for management of pediatric obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (osdb) in terms of efficacy of the technique and reducing postoperative complications.

tonsillectomy is one of commonly performed pediatric otorhinolaryngology surgeries. the two main indications of tonsillectomy in children include recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (osdb); including obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome. total tonsillectomy means total removal of the tonsillar tissue with the tonsillar capsule. the main drawbacks of tonsillectomy are the potential for serious postoperative bleeding, postoperative pain, eating and drinking difficulties, and reduced immune function in the early stages after the operation. partial tonsillectomy (intracapsular tonsillectomy, subtotal tonsillectomy) means subtotal removal of tonsillar tissue, leaving a margin of tissue on the tonsillar capsule . in contrast to complete tonsil removal, partial tonsillectomy does not violate the capsule, and leaves lymphoid tissue as a protective tissue on the pharyngeal muscle layer thus preserving of the connective tissue capsule and pharyngeal muscles. this diminishes the direct and indirect trauma during an intraoperative procedure and the inflammation due to secondary infection during the postoperative period. recently, children with osdb have benefited from the less invasive partial tonsillectomy with less pain, equivalent or easier recovery, better food intake, and maintain the immunological function of the tonsils, while being as effective as tonsillectomy for resolving upper-airway obstructive symptoms. many studies have evaluated the outcomes of the two techniques, but uncertainty remains with regard to the efficacy, complications and long term outcomes. some studies have reported the recurrence of obstructive symptoms due to regrowth of the remaining tonsillar tissue. thus, it is important to evaluate partial tonsillectomy comprehensively, especially paying attention to short-term and long-term results. over the last years, unilateral complete tonsillectomy (usually combined with adenoidectomy) was the most commonly utilized procedure for treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep-disordered breathing below the age of four years old in otorhinolaryngology department, assiut university

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * • age: 1-3 yeas. * diagnosed to have obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (osdb) due to adenotonsillar enlargement confirmed by flexible nasoendoscopic assessment. exclusion criteria: * • any associated medical comorbidity that contraindicates general anesthesia. * children having other causes for osdb (e.g. obesity, down syndrome, craniofacial abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, sickle cell disease, or mucopolysaccharidoses). * refusal of enrollment in the research by care givers.

Keywords: pediatric obstructive sleep disordered breathing-partial tonsillectomy -unilateral complete tonsillectomy -adenoidectomy