SynthesisThe Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology2026
Lingual Tonsillectomy for Resistant Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects many children, particularly those with Down syndrome (DS), with prevalence estimates ranging from 50% to 100%. Although adenotonsillectomy is the traditional first-line treatment, individuals with DS frequently have residual OSA (rOSA) because to their complex airway architecture. Lingual tonsil hypertrophy has been found as a significant risk factor for rOSA; however, the role of lingual tonsillectomy (LT) in this population is uncertain.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024552955). We included studies of pediatric patients (≤18 years) with DS and rOSA who underwent LT. Primary outcomes were changes in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), obstructive AHI (OAHI), and oxygen nadir (O₂). Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications.
resultsThree retrospective case series comprising 68 patients met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis demonstrated a mean improvement in oxygen nadir of 4.58% (95% CI: 2.73-6.43,
conclusionLingual tonsillectomy appears effective in improving OSA severity in children with DS. While promising, outcome improvements may be less pronounced than in the general population, likely due to complex anatomical and physiological factors unique to this group. Standardized outcome measures and prospective studies are needed to better guide management in this high-risk group.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.