Surgery for obese apnea kids ‘pointless’

Surgical interventions for obese children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may not be as effective as first thought.

Research presented at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology said surgery did not appear to be curing the disorder.

Obese children are already at an increased risk of developing OSA, a sleep disorder that is associated with a decreased quality of life as well as behavioural, neuro-cognitive, cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and psychiatric complications.

The standard therapy for children with this condition is removal of the tonsils and adenoid tissue.

In their research, scientists combined the results of four previous studies, including one on obese children who had a sleep study before and after undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Their findings reveal that obese children may be helped, but are unlikely to be completely cured of obstructive sleep apnea after removal of the tonsils and adenoids.

The authors conclude that persistent obstructive sleep apnea after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy should be carefully evaluated and treated to avoid further complications of the disease.