ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Sleep apnea is a prevalent issue in children, associated with significant morbidities such as cardiovascular and neurocognitive disorders. There is increasing interest in intra-capsular tonsillectomy by coblation (ICTC) as a method to address obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. However, the literature remains controversial regarding the most effective intra-capsular tonsillectomy (ICT) technique with the least morbidity. Our current research extends a previous study that established the effectiveness and safety of ICTC, demonstrating rapid post-surgical recovery with minimal analgesic needs. This new investigation specifically focuses on long-term follow-up. Our aim is to assess tonsil regrowth and the risk of recurrence of OSA symptoms at a mean follow-up of 6.1 years post-surgery. By presenting the results of this extended study, our goal is to gain a better understanding of the long-term effectiveness of this surgical intervention in treating OSA in children. Thus, considering the initial benefits, we will also explore potential long-term implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research follows up on children from our previous study who underwent ICTC, with or without adenoidectomy, for OSA resulting from tonsillar hypertrophy at a tertiary-level university hospital between March 2016 and March 2018. They were followed up for an average of 6.1 years postoperatively. Symptom recurrence is assessed by comparing preoperative OSA-18 questionnaire results with those obtained at the 6.1-year mark. Tonsil regrowth is evaluated by comparing preoperative Brodsky scores with those obtained at 6.1 years. RESULTS: The mean total score of OSA-18 significantly decreased from 79.41 (SD = 14.95) before ICTC to 25.47 (SD = 8.92) at 6.1 years postoperatively (p < 0.001, mean difference = 53.94, 95 % CI [50.32, 57.56]). Similarly, the mean Brodsky score dropped from 2.95 (SD = 0.51) before ICTC to 1.04 (SD = 0.24) 6.1 years postoperatively (p < 0.001, mean difference = 1.92, 95 % CI [1.80, 2.04]). The overall regrowth rate was 2.35 % (n = 2), with a revision surgery rate of 1.18 % (n = 1). CONCLUSION: ICTC exhibits minimal risk of tonsil regrowth and maintains long-term efficacy in preventing the recurrence of OSA symptoms. Therefore, it justifies broader utilization in addressing OSA symptoms arising from tonsillar hypertrophy in children.
