Effect of Adenotonsillectomy on Quality of Life in Children With Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea

In children, enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils are the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is temporary blockage of breathing during sleep. Surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids is the first-line treatment for disorder, and has been shown to cure the majority of children. However, for children with only a mild degree of OSA and few symptoms, surgery is less clear-cut, since two-thirds of these children do not develop worsening disease. Research shows that some children with mild OSA and behavior problems are helped by removing the tonsils and adenoids. In children with all degrees of OSA, surgery has improved scores on tests that measure quality of life (QOL). The investigators hypothesize that children with mild OSA will demonstrate changes on QOL assessment following adenotonsillectomy. These findings may help to guide the surgeon in selecting the children with mild OSA who are more likely to benefit from surgery.