Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) on the behavior, sleep-disordered breathing symptoms and quality of life for children who snore, but do not have obstructive sleep apnea, as well as identify factors that moderate responses to the surgery. Half of participants will receive eAT, while the other half will be observed with watchful waiting and supportive care.

Adenotonsillectomies are performed more than 500,000 times per year in the United States, and is the most common surgery performed under general anesthesia in children. The majority of surgeries are performed for obstructed breathing rather than for infection or other indications. The role of adenotonsillectomy (AT) in improving the 7-month neurocognitive, behavioral and health outcomes of children with frank obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was recently addressed in the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT). The results of this rigorous, multicenter, randomized controlled trial provided critically important data indicating that adenotonsillectomy compared to watchful waiting resulted in improved behavior, quality of life, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms and polysomnographic parameters. However, the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial addressed the role of surgery in the minority of operative candidates who have frank obstructive sleep apnea, only one form of sleep disordered breathing on a spectrum that includes a more common phenotype, primary snoring (also termed mild sleep disordered breathing (MSDB)). Mild sleep disordered breathing is characterized by snoring without frank obstruction or gas exchange abnormalities, and has a population prevalence of about 10% in children. Since most surgeries for obstructed breathing are performed for mild sleep disordered breathing rather than obstructive sleep apnea, the next logical question is whether surgery is also effective in improving symptoms and health outcomes in this large group of children. The Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS) intends to take advantage of a successful collaboration of leaders in sleep medicine, otolaryngology and clinical trials to efficiently leverage experiences from the CHAT trial to evaluate the role of adenotonsillectomy in children with mild sleep disordered breathing while also aiming to resolve uncertainties regarding management approaches for pediatric mild sleep disordered breathing by addressing several critical issues: 1. Assess outcomes important to children and their families, particularly patient-reported outcomes such as behavior, quality of life, and sleep disturbances. 2. Examine differences in treatment responses among children who are at increased risk for mild sleep disordered breathing, such as pre-school children, minorities, and children with asthma or obesity. 3. Evaluate health care utilization of children with mild sleep disordered breathing. 4. Assess moderating influences such as second hand smoke, insufficient sleep, socioeconomic status and family functioning 5. Examine longer term (12 month) outcomes that were not feasible in the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT). These aims have substantial public health significance given the high morbidity of sleep disordered breathing in children.