Radiofrequency tonsil reduction in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: impact on quality of life assessed by the OSA-18
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.3169Keywords:
obstructive sleep apnea, child, radiofrequency, OSA-18, quality of life, obesityAbstract
Objective: To evaluate the impact of radiofrequency tonsil reduction combined with adenoidectomy on the quality of life of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using the OSA-18 questionnaire.
Materials and Methods: Prospective study including 44 children (2–15 years) with OSA who underwent adenoidectomy and radiofrequency tonsil reduction. Quality of life was assessed preoperatively and 3–6 months after surgery using the Portuguese version of the OSA-18 questionnaire.
Results: The OSA-18 score decreased from 71.02 to 35.16 (p < 0.001), with improvement observed across all domains, particularly in sleep disturbance and caregiver concern. Obesity was associated with a smaller magnitude of improvement (p = 0.015) and higher postoperative scores (p = 0.028).
Conclusion: Radiofrequency tonsil reduction combined with adenoidectomy significantly improves quality of life and represents an effective alternative to tonsillectomy for the treatment of pediatric OSAS. Obesity was identified as an independent factor associated with poorer outcomes.
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