Effect of Adenotonsillectomy on Attention Tests

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 147; no. 2_suppl; p. P99
• Main Authors: Abreu, Cassiana B., Pascoto, Gabriela R., Guedes, Mariana, Weber, Raimar, Pignatari, Shirley S. N., Stamm, Aldo E. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-08-2012
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599812451438a199

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.