Abstract Purpose To determine the clinical and anatomical characteristics associated with obstructive sleep apnea severity in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Methods The authors conducted a cross-sectional multidisciplinary survey and selected 58 Brazilian children (4‒9 years old) with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, parental complaints of snoring, mouth-breathing, and witnessed apnea episodes. The authors excluded children with known genetic, craniofacial, neurological, or psychiatric conditions. Children with a parafunctional habit or early dental loss and those receiving orthodontic treatment were not selected. All children underwent polysomnography, and three were excluded because they showed an apnea-hypopnea index lower than one or minimal oxygen saturation higher than 92%. The sample consisted of 55 children classified into mild (33 children) and moderate/severe (22 children) obstructive sleep apnea groups. Detailed clinical and anatomical evaluations were performed, and anthropometric, otorhinolaryngological, and orthodontic variables were analyzed. Sleep disorder symptoms were assessed using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaire. All children also underwent teleradiography exams and Rickett's and Jarabak's cephalometric analyses. Results The mild and moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea groups showed no significant differences in clinical criteria. Facial depth angle, based on Ricketts cephalometric analysis, was significantly different between the groups (p= 0.010), but this measurement by itself does not express the child's growth pattern, as it is established by the arithmetic mean of the differences between the obtained angles and the normal values of five cephalometric measurements. Conclusions The clinical criteria and craniofacial characteristics evaluated did not influence the disease severity.

OBJECTIVE: Adenotonsillectomy is recognized as an effective therapy for snoring and sleep disorders in children. It is important to understand whether adenotonsillectomy significantly increases the volume of the pharyngeal space. The goal of this study was to evaluate the change in oropharyngeal volume after adenotonsillectomy and the correlation of this change with the objective volume of the tonsils and body mass index. METHODS: We included 27 subjects (14 males) with snoring caused by tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy. The mean age of the subjects was 7.92 (±2.52) years. Children with craniofacial malformations or neuromuscular diseases or syndromes were excluded. The parents/caregivers answered an adapted questionnaire regarding sleep-disordered breathing. All patients were subjected to weight and height measurements and body mass index was calculated. The subjects underwent pharyngometry before and after adenotonsillectomy and the volume of both excised tonsils together was measured in cm3 in the operating room. RESULTS: Pharyngometric analysis showed that the mean pharyngeal volume was 28.63 (±5.57) cm3 before surgery and 31.23 (±6.76) cm3 after surgery; the volume of the oropharynx was significantly increased post-surgery (p=0.015, Wilcoxon test). No correlation was found between the objective tonsil volume and the post-surgical volume increase (p=0.6885). There was a fair correlation between the oropharyngeal volume and body mass index (p=0.0224). CONCLUSION: Adenotonsillectomy increases the volume of the pharyngeal space, but this increase does not correlate with the objective tonsil size. Furthermore, greater BMI was associated with a smaller increase in the pharyngeal volume. Oropharyngeal structures and craniofacial morphology may also play a role in the increase in oropharyngeal volume.

O aumento de volume das tonsilas palatina e faríngea é um dos problemas mais freqüentes do consultório do otorrinolaringologista e é a principal causa de apnéia obstrutiva do sono em crianças. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da adenoamigdalectomia na qualidade de vida em crianças com hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Trinta e seis pais ou responsáveis de crianças submetidas a adenoamigdalectomia foram entrevistados antes e após a cirurgia através do questionário sobre qualidade de vida específica desenvolvido por Serres et al., 2000, que inclui os domínios: sofrimento físico, distúrbios do sono, problemas de fala e deglutição, desconforto emocional, limitação das atividades e preocupação do responsável. RESULTADOS: A qualidade de vida de todas as crianças melhorou após a cirurgia. Foi observada correlação direta entre o grau de obstrução e distúrbios do sono, preocupação paterna, e na média dos domínios. Correlacionando-se os domínios entre si, observamos relação estatística entre sofrimento emocional e distúrbios do sono, preocupação paterna e distúrbios do sono, limitação das atividades físicas e desconforto emocional. CONCLUSÃO: O aumento das tonsilas e a apnéia obstrutiva do sono pioram a qualidade de vida das crianças, principalmente pelo sofrimento físico e distúrbios do sono. A adenoamigdalectomia realmente traz uma melhora importante na qualidade de vida destes pacientes.

Enlarged palatine and pharyngeal tonsils is one of the most frequent occurrences in otorhinolaryngology, and it is the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. AIM: To evaluate the impact of adenotonsillectomy in the quality of life of children with adenotonsillar hyperplasia. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 36 parents/guardians of children who underwent adenotonsillectomy were interviewed, before and after surgery. We used a special Questionnaire about quality of life (developed by Serres' et al. 2000), whose items included physical distress, sleep disorders, speech and swallowing disorders, emotional distress, limitation in activities and parent's/guardian's concern. RESULTS: The quality of life of all children improved after surgery. There was direct association between the level of airway obstruction and sleep disorders, parent's/guardian's concern and average scores. Comparing the items, we found statistical association between emotional distress and sleep disorders; parent's/guardian's concern and sleep disorders and limitation in activities and emotional distress. CONCLUSION: Enlarged tonsils and obstructive sleep apnea worsen the quality of life of children, especially because of physical distress and sleep disorders. Adenotonsillectomy greatly improves the quality of life of these patients.

A respiração oral é um sintoma freqüente na infância. A síndrome do respirador oral caracteriza-se por cansaço freqüente, sonolência diurna, adinamia, baixo apetite, enurese noturna e até déficit de aprendizado e atenção. Entretanto este sintoma apresenta diversas causas. Faz-se necessário, portanto, esclarecer detalhes sobre estes aspectos clínicos de acordo com suas causas. OBJETIVO: Comparar os achados de sonolência diurna, cefaléia, agitação noturna, enurese, problemas escolares e bruxismo em indivíduos com respiração oral; de acordo com os seguintes diagnósticos: rinite alérgica, hiperplasia adenoideana, hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo com 142 pacientes de 2 a 16 anos, classificados em três grupos: rinite alérgica, hiperplasia adenoideana isolada e hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana. Os responsáveis dos pacientes responderam a questionário padronizado sobre os sintomas noturnos para caracterização da presença de apnéia do sono e sobre os aspectos estudados: cefaléia matinal, desempenho escolar e atenção, sonolência diurna, agitação noturna, enurese, bruxismo. RESULTADOS: A respiração oral é mais freqüente em meninos. Crianças com hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana são mais jovens. Este grupo apresenta maior freqüência de roncos e apnéia do sono, assim como mau desempenho escolar, bruxismo, enurese e agitação noturna, sendo estes sintomas relacionados com a apnéia, diferenciando-se do grupo com rinite alérgica. Não se observou sonolência diurna e cefaléia matinal significante nos grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: Bruxismo, enurese, agitação noturna e cefaléia estão relacionados com a apnéia do sono, sendo mais freqüente na hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana. Assim, a investigação de apnéia do sono na criança com respiração oral é fundamental e assim como a determinação da causa da respiração oral.

Mouth breathing is very common in children. Mouthbreathing syndrome is characterized by tiredness, daytime sleepiness, failure to thrive, restless sleep, nocturnal enuresis and poor school performance. However, this symptom has several causes and it is necessary to elucidate more details about this entity. AIM: Compare the findings of daytime sleepiness, headache, nocturnal enuresis, poor school performance and attention deficit and bruxism in subjects that present mouth breathing according to the following diagnosis: allergic rhinitis, adenoidal hyperplasia and adenotonsillar hyperplasia. STUDY DESIGN: Transversal cohort study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a prospective study of 142 patients from 2 to 16 years old. After ENT evaluation, patients were classified in 3 groups according to the following diagnosis: allergic rhinitis, adenoidal hyperplasia, adenotonsillar hyperplasia. Parents and caregivers answered a questionnaire about night symptoms in order to describe the presence of sleep apnea and specific questions about: morning headaches, school performance and attention deficit, daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, nocturnal enuresis and bruxism. RESULTS: Mouth breathing is common in boys. Children with adenotonsillar hyperplasia are younger and present more snoring and sleep apnea. They present also poor school performance, bruxism, nocturnal enuresis and restless sleep, which are correlated to sleep apnea, differing from the allergic rhinitis group. Significant findings of daytime sleepiness and morning headaches were not found. CONCLUSION: Bruxism, enuresis, restless sleep and poor school performance are related to sleep apnea and more frequent in subjects with adenotonsillar hyperplasia. The investigation of sleep apnea in children with mouth breathing is mandatory, as well as the determination of its cause.

Adenoidectomia e amigdalectomia são as cirurgias mais freqüentemente realizadas na prática otorrinolaringológica diária. Em geral, são procedimentos seguros, que não requerem internação prolongada. Em nosso serviço, o paciente recebe alta hospitalar cerca de seis horas após a intervenção, e são utilizadas diferentes técnicas cirúrgicas. OBJETIVO:Avaliar a segurança da liberação do paciente no mesmo dia e as complicações pós-operatórias, e compará-las às técnicas cirúrgicas utilizadas. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO:Avaliamos prospectivamente 147 pacientes submetidos a adenoidectomia e/ou amigdalectomia por três técnicas diferentes no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Um protocolo foi aplicado pelo médico que realizou a cirurgia no pós-operatório imediato, após uma semana e um mês, pesquisando a presença de episódios de sangramento, febre, náuseas, vômitos, dor, disfagia a líquidos e a sólidos. RESULTADOS: A incidência de hemorragia pós-operatória foi de 7,48% no primeiro pós-operatório. Houve sangramento discreto em 3,4% dos pacientes durante a primeira semana. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos em relação à técnica cirúrgica utilizada, quanto às complicações estudadas. CONCLUSÃO: A liberação do paciente após 6 horas de cirurgia é uma conduta segura. Como não há diferença estatística quanto às complicações de acordo com a técnica cirúrgica utilizada, acreditamos que o cirurgião deva utilizar a técnica com a qual é mais familiarizado.

Adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy are the most frequent surgeries been practice by otorhinolaryngologists. Usually adenotonsillectomy is a safe procedure, which does not request long hospitalization. In our service, patients are discharged from hospital about 6 hours after the end of the procedure. We regularly apply different surgical techniques for tonsillectomy. AIM: To evaluate the safeness of a day hospital system, and post-operatory complications, correlating them with the surgical techniques applied. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We evaluated prospectively 147 patients submitted to tonsillectomies in our service. We applied three different techniques. The surgeon applied a protocol on the same day, a week and a month after procedure, inquiring about the occurrence of bleeding, fever, nausea, vomits, pain and inability to eat or drink. RESULTS: The post-operatory incidence of bleeding was 7,48% in the first day after procedure. Small amount of bleeding occurred in 3,4% cases during the first week. No statistic difference was found correlating the surgical techniques applied and rated complications. CONCLUSIONS: Discharging patients from hospital 6 hours after surgery is a safe procedure. Considering that we found no statistic difference between the related complications and the surgical technique applied, we believe the surgeon must utilize his well-known technique.

A hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana é a principal causa de obstrução das vias aéreas superiores em crianças, sendo muitas vezes associada à apnéia do sono. Esta, por sua vez, resulta em uma série de comprometimentos: baixo rendimento escolar, cor pulmonale, distúrbios de comportamento não específicos, hiperatividade, sonolência diurna, distração e atrasos de desenvolvimento, sendo o déficit pôndero-estatural o mais grave. A adenoamigdalectomia é o tratamento de escolha. O objetivo deste trabalho é mensurar o crescimento e desenvolvimento das crianças antes e depois da adenoamigdalectomia através da comparação dos percentis pré e pós operatórios. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo randomizado. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Cinquenta e cinco crianças de 2 a 12 anos, com história de obstrução das vias aéreas superiores por hiperplasia adenoamigdaliana foram submetidas a exame antropométrico (peso e altura), antes e 6 meses após a adenoamigdalectomia. Os dados foram transformados em percentil para peso e altura, de acordo com a idade e comparados através de análise estatística. RESULTADOS: No pré-operatório, encontramos a seguinte distribuição para o percentil altura: 78,2%, abaixo de p75 e para peso 70,9% abaixo de p50. No pós-operatório observou-se melhor distribuição das crianças: para altura 34,6% abaixo de p75, 32,8% entre p75-95 e 32,6% para p95 e acima e para peso: 35,5% abaixo de p50, 36,4% para p50-95 e 29,1% acima de p95. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se uma melhora considerável do desenvolvimento pôndero-estatural das crianças após a adenoamigdalectomia.

Tonsil and adenoid hyperplasia is one of the most common causes of upper airway obstruction in children; and generally comes along with sleep apnea. It is usually associated to poor school performance, non-specific behavioral disturbs, hyperactivity, daytime sleepiness, distraction and failure to thrive. This one is a very serious consequence for the child. The purpose of this study is to compare height and weight percentiles before and after surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective randomized. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 55 children (male and female) from 2 to 12 years old; with upper airway obstruction due to tonsil and adenoid hyperplasia. All of them were measured (height and weight) before and 6 months after adenotonsillectomy. Height and weight percentiles were plotted in graphics and compared with statistical analysis. RESULTS: Before surgery, the majority of the children, 78.2% were under p75 for height and 70.9% were under p50 for weight. Three months after surgery there was a better distribution of the children throughout the percentil ranges. For height: 34.6% were under p75; 32.85 were between p75-95 and 32.6% were above p95. For weight 35.5% were under p50; 36.4% were under p50-95 and 29.1% were above p95. CONCLUSION: After surgery, children presented an improvement in their height and weight percentiles. They develop better after the treatment of upper airway obstruction, with T&A surgery.