Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) After Adenotonsillectomy in Children

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects 2-3% of children and may lead to problems with nighttime sleep and daytime behavior, learning, sleepiness, and mood. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the second most common surgical procedure in children. It is now performed more often for suspected SDB than for any other indication. However, recent studies indicate that many if not most children still have SDB after AT, and many still have learning or behavioral problems associated with SDB. The goals of this study are: (1) to assess the extent that behavior, cognition, and sleepiness in children can improve with Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment after AT, and (2) to identify which patients stand to gain most from post-operative assessment and treatment.