Comparison of cardiac function and valvular damage in children with and without adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE Comparison of cardiac function in children with and without adenotonsillar hypertrophy. METHODS We examined 28 pediatric patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy mean aged 7.3+/-2.9 years comprised of 14 females and 14 males (group I). The control group were chosen from 35 healthy sex and age matched children mean aged 7.37+/-2.7 years (group II). Both groups were examined by an otorhinolaryngologist and adenotonsillar hypertrophy was diagnosed with nasal endoscopic method or lateral neck X-ray. All the patients in group I underwent adenotonsillectomy. Cardiologic and echocardiographic examinations were performed in both groups. Echocardiographic examination was done twice in group I (preoperative and postoperative first month) however in group II only once. Preoperative findings of group I compared with the findings of group II. Preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic findings were also compared within group I. The chi-square test and the independent paired-sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The tricuspid end-diastolic time was the only significant difference in echocardiographic findings between the two groups (104.8+/-28.8 ms versus for 86.4+/-17.32 ms p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic findings in group I. Brady-tachyarrhythmia was detected on electrocardiography - performed with 24h ambulatory electrocardiography - in one patient. To our surprise, in group I five patients had cardiac valve damage: mitral and/or aortic valve insufficiency. These findings were interpreted as silent carditis. CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in right ventricular function between the children with and without adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Whereas, there was shortening of tricuspid end-diastolic time in group I. However, five patients having adenotonsillar hypertrophy developed a cardiac dysfunction which was not observed in the control group. Therefore, we assumed a correlation between adenotonsillar hypertrophy and possible silent carditis following frequent tonsillitis.