Open AccessEffect of Adenotonsillectomy on Attention Tests
Author(s) -
Abreu Cassiana B.,
Pascoto Gabriela R.,
Guedes Mariana,
Weber Raimar,
Pignatari Shirley S. N.,
Stamm Aldo E. C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451438a199
Subject(s) - medicine , airway obstruction , epworth sleepiness scale , tonsillectomy , airway , anesthesia , pediatrics , polysomnography , apnea
Objective To evaluate the performance of children and adolescents in tests of visual attention before and after surgical treatment of upper airway obstruction (adenotonsillectomy). Method Study group: 27 children (6‐17 years) with excessive daytime sleepiness undergoing surgical treatment of upper airways obstruction. Control group: 30 children (same age) without respiratory or sleep‐related complaints. TAVIS‐3 test was performed at baseline and 60 days after the surgery (patients) or first evaluation (controls). Results The initial study population was comprised of 60 children, 29 in the treatment group and 31 in the control group. The final analysis included 57 patients, 27 in the treatment group and 30 in the control group. Mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale–Children (ESSC) decreased from 9.9 ± 2.8 to 5.1 ± 2.1 ( P <. 001) in patients and from 4.7 ± 1.6 to 4.6 ± 1.7 for controls. Response time, number of action errors, and number of omission errors decreased significantly ( P <. 001) between the 2 evaluations in patients when compared to controls. Conclusion Surgical treatment of upper airway obstruction and resolution of daytime sleepiness promote improvement in visual attention in children and adolescents.