Sleep related quality of life before and after adenotonsillar surgery in pediatric population

Objective

To assess the quality of life in children with adenotonsillar problems before and after adenotonsillectomy in short term follow-up.

Methods

Quasi-experimental study (before and after study) of children with adenotonsillar problems at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Amir’Alam hospital. Eighty six pediatric patients aged 3 through 13 years (58 boys and 28 girls) who underwent adenotonsillectomy, for treatment of sleep disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection, were recruited. Parents completed OSA-18 quality of life survey and Brouillette score questionnaire before and one month after surgery.

Results

Reliability of the Brouillette score and OSA-18 survey was established by evaluating the Cronbach α value. Cronbach α for Brouillette score was 0.70 and for OSA-18 survey it was 0.88. Preoperative values for the OSA-18 total and domain scores were high in children: mean ± SD; 61.65 ± 20.78. Preoperative values for the Brouillette score were: mean ± SD; 0.41 ± 2.34. The total OSA-18 survey score and the scores for all domains showed significant improvement after surgery: mean ± SD; 28.01 ± 9.09 (P < 0.001). Post-operative Brouillette score had a significant improvement: mean ± SD; −3.57 ± 0.91 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Considering the OSA-18 survey and Brouillete score results, surgical therapy with adenotonsillectomy is associated with marked improvement in quality of life in both obstructive and infective adenotonsillar disease.