To what degree does adenotonsillectomy affect neurocognitive performance in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome due to adenotonsillar enlargement?

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common childhood problem; complications include possibly reduced neurocognitive performance. Treatment of OSAHS is usually by adenotonsillectomy, but whether surgery relieves both sleep disturbances and associated behavioral problems to the same degree or not is a reasonable question.
OBJECTIVE: To correlate the degree of OSAHS due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy to the preoperative level of the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children, and to assess the degree of postoperative change, if any, in IQ. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The IQ of 84 children suffering from OSAHS due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy was assessed preoperatively and after adenotonsillectomy. The results were compared to a matched control group.
RESULTS: The IQ was reduced in children with OSAHS; the degree of the reduction was correlated to the degree of apnea. The comparison of the pre- and postoperative values of the study group showed a significant improvement in IQ postoperatively, with postoperative values matching the control group.
CONCLUSION: The IQ of children with OSAHS, as an indicator of neurocognitive function, is reduced, and this reduction can be correlated to the degree of obstruction; but the reduction is reversible and can be reduced even a short period after having experienced relief from the obstruction. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.