Efficacy of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

Objectives/Hypothesis: We sought to determine the effectiveness of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) in the treatment of children with moderately severe obstructive sleep apnea and to measure changes in quality of life that occur with such treatment. Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial in an academic pediatric otolaryngology practice. Methods: Convenience sample of children ages 3 to 12 years diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea of moderate severity, defined as an apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) between 5 and 20 on polysomnography. Children with recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis, chromosomal abnormalities, craniofacial abnormalities, neuromotor disease, sickle cell disease, obesity, or coagulopathy were excluded. PITA was performed by using the microdebrider. Polysomnography was performed before surgery and repeated 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)‐18 questionnaire was completed at surgery and at the time of postoperative polysomnography to assess quality of life changes. The main outcome measure was cure of obstructive sleep apnea, as defined by a postoperative AHI of 1 or less for complete cure and less than 5 for partial cure. Improvements in quality of life were assessed by changes in the OSA‐18 questionnaire. Results: Nineteen children underwent PITA for moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and 14 completed postoperative polysomnography. All 14 subjects who completed the study achieved at least partial cure. Thirteen of 14 (93%) subjects had a complete cure of OSAS after PITA. The median preoperative AHI was 7.9, and the median AHI after surgery was 0.1. The mean number of arousals per hour before surgery was 9.5, and this was reduced to a mean of 5.6 after surgery. Quality of life measures on OSA‐18 also improved, with large improvements in total quality of life scores and in all five domains seen after surgery. Conclusions: PITA cures otherwise healthy children with obstructive sleep apnea of moderate severity, at least in the short‐term, as documented by postoperative polysomnography. Improvements in quality of life measures, as documented by changes in OSA‐18, were seen in all children as well.     

扁桃体腺样体切除术治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患儿的疗效观察

目的 探讨扁桃体腺样体切除术对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（OSAS）患儿的治疗效果。方法 多导睡眠检测(PSG)确诊OSAS患儿60例。随机分为实验组A组（30例）、对照组B组（30例）。A组住院行扁桃体腺样体切除术,B组给予口服安慰剂维生素C（剂量均为0.1mg）,比较A组与B组治疗前及治疗3个月后的呼吸暂停低通气指数（AHI）及最低动脉血氧饱和度（SaO2）的变化,同时对比两组患儿家长的语言评价量表(VRS)评价结果的差异。结果 治疗前A组及B组的AHI和最低SaO2无明显差异。治疗3个月后A组AHI为2.6±1.8、最低SaO2为92.9±2.5与B组相应的AHI为17.1±8.2、最低SaO2为81.4±9.1差异明显,差异有统计学意义。另外,根据患儿家长的语言评价量表评价结果,实验组OSAS患儿睡眠打鼾、憋气及张口呼吸症状改善有效率分别为86.7％、93.3％、86.7％,明显高于对照组( 6.7%、13.3%、13.3%)。结论 腺样体和扁桃体术对儿童OSAS有较好的疗效,是治疗儿童OSAS的有效方法。     

Comparison of treatment outcomes between intracapsular and total tonsillectomy for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundIntracapsular tonsillectomy (IT) has been advocated as a treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, evidence in the literature utilizing polysomnography (PSG) is limited.ObjectiveTo examine the experience at a tertiary children's hospital to evaluate the effectiveness and risks of intracapsular tonsillectomy compared to total tonsillectomy (TT) for treating pediatric OSA.MethodsA retrospective study was undertaken of pediatric tonsillectomy cases performed for OSA at a tertiary children's hospital from 2005 to 2010. Patients with recurrent tonsillitis, craniofacial abnormalities, chromosomal abnormalities, neuromuscular disease, and congenital malformations were excluded. Main outcome measures were apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimum oxygen saturation (minO₂), and surgical complications.ResultsOf the 1583 patients reviewed in this study, there were 75 IT and 93 TT patients with pre- and post-operative PSG results. The IT patients were younger, had lower BMI, larger tonsil size, lower pre-operative (AHI) and lower post-operative AHI (p < 0.05). There was a similar percentage of patients that showed improvement in AHI and minimum oxygen saturation between the IT and TT groups. There were statistically similar average change in AHI and minimum oxygen saturation between the IT and TT groups at 5.6 ± 8.6 and 8.6 ± 12.9, respectively (p = 0.8) as well as similar improvement in minimum oxygen saturation between the two groups at 3.3% ± 4.3% and 3.0% ± 5.2%, respectively (p = 0.66). Of TT patients, 2.9% experienced post-operative bleeding with 1.6% requiring OR for control of hemorrhage. Of IT patients, 2.2% were found to have tonsillar regrowth with 2.0% returning to the OR for secondary tonsillectomy.ConclusionsIntracapsular tonsillectomy, like total tonsillectomy, is effective in improving polysomnogram results in appropriately selected children. Intracapsular tonsillectomy is a suitable option for the surgical treatment of pediatric OSA consequent to its demonstrated efficacy in relieving OSA and its favorable safety profile.     

Complications of microdebrider-assisted powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

OBJECTIVES: To study complications of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and long-term follow-up in office or by telephone interview. METHODS: We studied 278 patients who underwent PITA between September 2000 and October 2002. Outcome measures were postoperative bleeding, velopharyngeal insufficiency, need for hospital readmission, tonsil regrowth, and return of snoring or sleep apnea symptoms. RESULTS: All 278 children treated by PITA had immediate resolution of symptoms of OSA. Complications were noted in 11 patients (3.9%). Nine patients (3.2%) experienced tonsil regrowth with snoring, two of whom evolved to a return of OSA that was definitively managed by means of a complete tonsillectomy. Two patients (0.7%) had self-limited bleeding. None of the patients developed persistent velopharyngeal insufficiency or required hospital readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Microdebrider-assisted PITA is a safe and effective alternative for children otherwise treated with traditional tonsillectomy for symptoms of OSA due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. This series suggests a 3.9% overall rate of complications, with the most common noted as tonsillar regrowth without recurrence of OSA. Prospective trials with longer follow-up may define higher complication rates.     

Lower-pole intracapsular tonsillectomy in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Conclusion: Lower-pole intracapsular tonsillectomy (LPIT) is a valuable surgical technique capable of decreasing post-operative bleeding in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.

Objective: This study performed LPIT to simultaneously reduce post-operative bleeding of lower pole and prevent recurrent tonsillitis of upper pole and compared its effects to extracapsular tonsillectomy (ET).

Methods: ET was performed in the extracapsular plane, with complete monopolar dissection. In LPIT, the upper pole of palatine tonsil was removed by electrocautery with the extracapsular plane, followed by removal of the lower-pole by plasma ablation with the intracapsular plane. Post-operative bleeding incidence, bleeding site, and degree of pain were compared between the two groups.

Results: Three hundred and forty-seven patients diagnosed of OSA with polysomnography were enrolled. ET was performed in 152 patients and LPIT in 195 patients. There were no significant differences in post-operative pain between the two groups. The LPIT group showed significantly lower total bleeding incidence than the ET group (4.1% vs 9.2%; p?=?.05). In particular, lower-pole bleeding incidence was lower in the LPIT group than the ET group (1.0% vs 5.3%; p?=?.02).     

Ambulatory powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children younger than 3 years

OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess the safety and efficacy of outpatient intracapsular tonsillectomy, which has been recently described as a less invasive means of treating obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy, in children younger than 3 years; and (2) to challenge the standard dictum that children younger than 3 years should be admitted to the hospital after tonsil and adenoid surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study via medical chart review and telephone interview. SETTING: Pediatric otolaryngology group practice with academic affiliation.Patients Children with symptomatic tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy (n = 226) who underwent microdebrider-assisted intracapsular tonsillectomy between September 1, 2000, and October 1, 2002. METHODS: Comparison of study group (children <3 years old, n = 38; mean age, 30.3 months; 20 boys and 18 girls) with control group (children > or =3 years, n = 188), measuring pain, oral intake, analgesic requirements, complications, need for readmission, and relief of symptoms. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in pain, oral intake, or analgesic requirements. All children, regardless of age, were discharged home within 4 hours of surgery. No child in either group required readmission, and there were no complications related to the time of discharge. Younger children experience equivalent symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: Children younger than 3 years may undergo intracapsular tonsillectomy as outpatients without sacrificing safety or efficacy.     

Effect of intravascular dexamethasone injection after powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children

PurposeTo compare postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, and bleeding between intravascular dexamethasone injection group and control group among children undergoing powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA).Materials and methodsRetrospective review of medical records was performed for pediatric patients who underwent PITA from March 1, 2017, to February 28, 2021, at a tertiary referral medical center in South Korea. Postoperative pain and nausea were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) from the postoperative day (POD) 0 to POD 6. The number of analgesics administered and the number of vomiting episodes were recorded in the same period. The repeatedly measured parameters were statistically analyzed between the dexamethasone group and control group.ResultsA total of 71 children with complete questionnaires including 44 boys and 27 girls were included, and the mean age was 7.49 ± 2.44 years. There were 33 patients in the dexamethasone group and 38 in the control group. Postoperative pain (p = 0.169) or nausea (p = 0.460) on the VAS showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Postoperative analgesics showed no difference between the groups (p = 0.398), and neither did postoperative vomiting (p = 0.270). In both groups, no child showed signs of postoperative bleeding.ConclusionsThis study indicates that the beneficial effects of intravascular dexamethasone administration in PITA may not be evident. This might be due to the superior outcome of the PITA technique compared to total extracapsular tonsillectomy. Therefore, otolaryngologists performing PITA may not necessarily need to administer dexamethasone in children before surgery.     

扁桃体加腺样体切除术对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患儿睡眠结构的影响

目的探讨扁桃体加腺样体切除术对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）患儿睡眠结构的影响。方法选取45例OSAHS患儿行扁桃体加腺样体切除术,比较术前和术后3个月睡眠结构参数,包括睡眠效率（SE）、S1期比例、S2期比例、SWS期比例、REM期比例、觉醒指数（AI）、觉醒时间比例（AT%）、SaO2低于90%的持续时间占睡眠时间的百分比（SLT90%）、最低血氧饱和度（LSaO2）和氧减饱和度指数（ODI4）,并与正常儿童对照组比较,观察患儿各项指标的变化。结果 OSAHS患儿SE、SWS期、REM期和LSaO2比对照组均降低（P〈0.05）,S 1期、O D I 4和S LT 9 0%比对照组升高（P〈0.0 1）,AI和AT%比对照组升高（P〈0.05）。OSAHS患儿术后3个月SE、SWS期、REM期和LSaO2比术前均升高（P〈0.05）,S1期、AI、AT%、ODI4和SLT90%比术前降低（P〈0.05）。结论 OSAHS患儿存在睡眠结构紊乱,扁桃体加腺样体切除术能有效改善睡眠结构紊乱。     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患儿扁桃体腺样体切除术临床疗效分析

目的 评价扁桃体腺样体切除术对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）患儿的临床疗效。方法 行扁桃体及腺样体切除术患儿80例,术前、术后3个月或6个月行多道睡眠描记术（PSG）监测及OSA-18量表生活质量调查,分析手术疗效、PSG参数及OSA-18评分的变化。结果 80例患儿治愈70例（87%）,显效8例（10%）,有效2例（3%）,总有效率为100%。显效及有效的10例中8例合并变应性鼻炎经治疗变应性鼻炎后症状明显改善,另2例肥胖者经控制体质量后症状减轻。术后呼吸暂停低通气指数（AHI）、最低血氧饱和度（LSaO2）、OSA-18总分与术前比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 扁桃体、腺样体切除术是治疗儿童OSAHS的有效方法,同时应治疗合并的其他上呼吸道阻塞因素。PSG结合OSA-18调查表可对患儿进行手术前后主客观的综合评价。     

Impact of allergic rhinitis on quality of life after powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

BackgroundAllergic rhinitis (AR) has been reported to worsen quality of life (QoL) after adenotonsillectomy. Although powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) has been widely performed, it is not clear whether comorbid AR may worsen QoL in patients who undergo PITA.PurposeTo evaluate QoL after PITA in relation to AR.MethodsChildren undergoing PITA for sleep-disordered breathing were enrolled and divided into AR and non-AR groups. QoL was evaluated using serial applications of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) questionnaire and compared between the two groups.ResultsOf 151 enrolled patients, 73 were categorized into the AR and 78 into non-AR groups. After surgery, patients exhibited marked improvement in OSA-18 scores in both groups, with similar results at each follow-up. The degree of improvement in OSA-18 scores was less in the AR group 3 months after surgery; however, this difference was not significant 6 months after surgery.ConclusionsAlthough comorbid AR may initially appear to impede improvement in QoL after PITA, QoL was improved similarly 6 months after PITA, irrespective of AR status. In children with comorbid AR, PITA could be safely performed to treat sleep-disordered breathing without concerns regarding worsening of QoL.     

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in neurologically impaired children

RATIONALE: Children with neurologic impairment often present with airway obstruction that may require intervention. No single method of airway intervention is universally appropriate and effective in this patient population. This study was performed to examine the effectiveness of using adenotonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in resolving obstructive apnea (OA) in patients with neurologic impairment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 15 patients with neurologic impairment and OA treated with adenotonsillectomy and UPPP between 1986 and 1998 at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) was performed. All patients in the series had their primary area of obstruction in the posterior oropharynx involving the soft palate, pharyngeal walls and base of tongue. Post-operative improvement following adenotonsillectomy and UPPP was examined. Measures of improvement were based primarily on recorded lowest oxygen saturations, but clinical parameters, flexible upper airway endoscopy and polysomnography were used as well. RESULTS: Patient improvement was documented in 87% of patients treated with this modality. For the group, the mean lowest recorded oxygen saturation demonstrated a statistically significant improvement from 65% pre-operatively to 85% post-operatively (P = 0.005). In long-term follow-up of these patients, 77% (10 of 13) of those showing initial improvement have done well and have required no further airway intervention. However, 23% of these patients demonstrated the need for further airway intervention during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Adenotonsillectomy with UPPP is worthy of consideration in certain neurologically impaired patients with moderate to severe OA, limited primarily to the posterior pharyngeal area. Initial improvement may not be permanent and close long-term follow-up of patients is imperative.     

Safety and efficacy of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy in children: a multi-center retrospective case series

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy (PIT, e.g. regrowth rate) in children who underwent PIT at three different institutions. We also wanted to determine if the trend to greater safety through reduced bleeding and re-admission for dehydration, noted in our initial reports, would become statistically significant in a larger sample. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Multi-center retrospective case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all charts' of children who underwent PIT at three different institutions: the Children's Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, and the New York Otolaryngology Institute. For comparison, we reviewed the outpatient and inpatient records of all children who underwent conventional tonsillectomy performed by the same surgeons at the Children's Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic and Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children during the same period. No comparison group was available for the New York Otolaryngology Institute group. Three outcome measures were recorded: regrowth, bleeding and re-admission for dehydration rates. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We identified 870 children that underwent PIT at three different institutions. In addition, 1121 children underwent conventional tonsillectomy at two of the three institutions. The mean follow-up for the PIT group was 1.2 years (range, 0.1-2.6 years) and 1.5 years (range, 0.1-3.0 years) for the conventional tonsillectomy group. The incidence of and 95% CI for the outcome measures were as follows regrowth 0.5% (0%, 1.4%), delayed post-operative bleeding 0.7% (0%, 1.9%), re-admission for dehydration 1.3% (0.05%, 2.6%), and overall major complications 0.46% (0.009%, 0.9%). When comparing conventional tonsillectomy to PIT, the bleeding rate, re-admission for dehydration, and the overall incidence of major complications were significantly lower in the PIT group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: PIT is a safe and effective technique in the management of obstructive sleep disordered breathing in children. PIT has the advantages of decreased pain, dehydration and post-operative bleeding, and with a mean follow-up of 1.2 years, a low incidence of tonsillar regrowth thus far.     

低温等离子治疗146例儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征临床观察

目的 对比传统方法,探讨低温等离子射频扁桃体、腺样体切除术对于治疗儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)的可行性并观察疗效.方法 回顾性分析2010年3月～2011年7月在我院手术治疗的262例OSAHS患儿的临床资料.其中,实验组146例,应用低温等离子射频行扁桃体切除术、腺样体消融术治疗;对照组116例,采用扁桃体电刀切除术、经鼻内镜下腺样体电动吸切术.随访2～16个月.结果 相对于对照组,采用低温等离子射频治疗的实验组在出血量、手术时间长短、术后疼痛评分和住院时间方面的改善都有统计学意义.结论 对比与传统的手术方法,低温等离子射频治疗儿童OSAS具有微创、安全、有效等优势,是一种较好的儿童OSAS治疗方法.     

Complications of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive apnea, especially OSA, is a common problem in pediatric practice. In young infants, craniofacial anomalies may be the most common contributor to OSA. Complications include failure to thrive, metabolic alkalosis, and respiratory distress which can be life-threatening. In children over the age of 2 years, adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy is more commonly the cause of upper airway obstruction. The complications of growth failure, cor pulmonale, and adult respiratory distress syndrome were discussed. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause significant complications in both infants and children. These problems can be life-threatening, cause delay in growth and development, or cause subtle long-term learning disabilities. Surgical management of the airway should correct the metabolic and cardiorespiratory disorders. The correction of learning disabilities has not yet been demonstrated.     

儿童睡眠呼吸暂停扁桃体与腺样体切除前后血气分析

目的探讨扁桃体、腺样体切除对儿童睡眠呼吸暂停的影响。方法对1998年10月-2003年12月施行的229例慢性扁桃体和／或腺样体切除术患儿术前术后血气分析的指标加以对照并进行分析。结果血气分析指标血氧分压、二氧化碳分压及pH值显示,34例有睡眠呼吸暂停病史者血气分析参数变化显著,195例没有睡眠呼吸暂停病史者血气分析参数变化不明显。结论扁桃体和／或腺样体的异常肥大是导致儿童睡眠呼吸暂停的主要原因,通过手术切除扁桃体及腺样体可以获得满意的疗效。     

扁桃体下极被膜保留的扁桃体切除术在儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停治疗中的应用

目的 观察扁桃体下极被膜保留的扁桃体切除术在儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(OSA)中的可行性及优势。方法 将2018年8月—2019年12月行扁桃体下极被膜保留扁桃体切除术(91例)与2017年1月—2018年7月行传统扁桃体切除术(100例)治疗儿童OSA患者的临床资料进行回顾性对比分析。比较两组手术时间、术中出血、术后疼痛评分、术后并发症、随访1年的情况。结果 两组手术时间及术中出血无明显差异,下极被膜保留组术后第1天、第3天疼痛评分显著低于传统手术组(P＜0.05)。术后出血率传统手术组(7/100,7％)高于下极被膜保留组(2/91,2.19％)(P＜0.05)。术后随访1年,两组均未出现局部感染及再发扁桃体肥大情况。结论 扁桃体下极被膜保留的扁桃体切除术是儿童OSA的一种安全可行的手术方式,可以有效降低术后出血风险及术后疼痛。