Impact of adenotonsillectomy on nocturnal enuresis in children with sleep-disordered breathing: A prospective study

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: To investigate the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and nocturnal enuresis (NE) in children and to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of adenotonsillectomy on resolving enuresis in indicated SDB patients with NE.

Methods: We prospectively collected data from 183 children (121 males, mean age 8.17 ± 2.84 years) who underwent adenotonsillectomy to treat SDB between July 2011 and July 2013, and analyzed the prevalence of NE. Before and 3 months after surgery, all parents were requested to answer a self-reported SDB scale questionnaire (22 questions, 0-22 points) and a NE questionnaire (episodes of enuresis per month). Paired t test, Student t test, and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data.

Results: Overall prevalence of NE was 9.3% (17 patients) preoperatively and 1.5% postoperatively (four patients). After adenotonsillectomy, prevalence of NE and the mean SDB scale were significantly decreased (both P values < 0.001). After adenotonsillectomy, 13 of the 17 NE patients (76.5%) showed complete resolution. There was significantly higher prevalence of NE in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) than those without OSA (13.1%, 14 of 107 vs. 3.9%, 3 of 76; P = 0.036).

Conclusion: There is strong association between NE and SDB, and adenotonsillectomy can markedly improve enuresis in the majority of children with NE and SDB.

Levels of evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 126:1241-1245, 2016.

Keywords: Sleep-disordered breathing; adenotonsillectomy; nocturnal enuresis.