Adenotonsillectomy Tied to Decrease in Heart Rate, Cardiac Output in Children

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — For children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) and obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB), adenotonsillectomy is associated with a significant reduction in resting heart rate and estimated cardiac output (COEst), according to a study published online Aug. 8 in Clinical Otolaryngology.

Francisco Alves de Sousa, M.D., from Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António in Porto, Portugal, and colleagues examined the impact of adenotonsillectomy on cardiovascular parameters in children aged 4 to 14 years with ATH and suspected OSDB. Cardiovascular parameters included preoperative and postoperative resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), weight, and COEst. The influence of time (surgery), age, gender, and their interactions on the outcomes was examined using generalized estimating equation models.

Ninety children (mean age, 6.86 ± 2.78 years) participated in the study. The researchers observed significant decreases in heart rate and COEst in association with adenotonsillectomy, but no significant changes were seen in SBP or DBP. There was a significant negative correlation noted between the change in COEst and age, with younger children having a more pronounced reduction in COEst.

“The clinical significance of these findings remains to be explored,” the authors write. “They may implicate a reduction in resting sympathetic activity following the resolution of upper airway obstruction.”

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