New research has shown that surgical interventions may be of no use in treating obstructive sleep apnea in many obese children.
Obese kids are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that is linked to a decreased quality of life as well as behavioral, neurocognitive, cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and psychiatric complications.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Overview
Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o
Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o
The researchers reviewed the literature and combined the results of four studies on obese children with obstructive sleep apnea who had a sleep study before and after undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
They found that those obese kids may be helped, but are unlikely to be completely cured of obstructive sleep apnea after removal of the tonsils and adenoids.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses completely blocking the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea is treated using continuous positive airway pressure.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses completely blocking the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea is treated using continuous positive airway pressure.
The study has been presented at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting and OTO EXPO in Chicago, IL.
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Tonsillectomy
Multimedia flash depicting the surgical procedure of Tonsillectomy done through the dissection method.
Multimedia flash depicting the surgical procedure of Tonsillectomy done through the dissection method.
