Newswise — Survey results released today show that eight out of 10 parents are unaware that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity can be consequences of neglecting common childhood sleep disorders such as snoring and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. More than 80 percent of parents also did not know that a tonsillectomy is the most effective treatment for sleep disordered breathing issues. Studies reveal that newer options can make the procedure less painful " and the recovery quicker " than ever before.
The findings, determined by a Harris Interactive® survey, kick off a joint educational effort by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), which represents the nation's 12,000 otolaryngologists—head and neck surgeons, and ArthroCare® Corp., developer of patented Coblation® technology, to identify public misperceptions about tonsillectomy. The survey was funded by an unrestricted educational grant from ArthroCare; the findings will be incorporated into the AAO-HNS annual educational campaign for pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders.
"The survey results support what I find in my practice every day " that most parents are not well educated about sleep problems in children or that tonsillectomy is the best treatment for problems like excessive snoring and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea," said Dr. Jay Dolitsky, clinical associate professor of otolaryngology at New York Medical College and former director of pediatric otolaryngology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
The survey uncovered the top five misconceptions about this leading treatment for children's obstructive sleep disorders:
"¢ Doctors don't remove tonsils anymore. Approximately 600,000 tonsillectomies are performed each year for children and adults. According to the AAO-HNS, it is the second most common childhood surgery.
"¢ Tonsils are mainly removed for sore throats and tonsillitis. Seventy-five percent of tonsillectomies are performed to treat obstructive sleep disorders.
"¢ A child will be in pain for up to two weeks after a tonsillectomy. Several studies show that advanced low-temperature technology, called Coblation, reduces pain after surgery compared to older, high-temperature technology such as electrocautery.
"¢ Children can only eat ice cream after a tonsillectomy. Low-temperature technology is allowing children to return to a normal diet three times faster on average when compared to hot technology such as electrocautery. "¢ Tonsillectomies have been performed the same way for decades. Scalpels and high temperature technology are still used, but according to a study published recently in Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, the advent of low-temperature technology in the last several years has been shown to improve patient recovery when compared to electrocautery.
The survey also confirmed that more than 90 percent of parents would prefer a quicker, less painful recovery for their child if they must undergo a tonsillectomy.Dolitsky indicates there are several options available for tonsillectomy. Physicians first performed the procedure with a scalpel and continue to do so today. Electrocautery, developed early in the last century, uses intense heat to remove tonsil tissue. New advances in technology, such as low-temperature Coblation, have been shown in clinical studies to shorten recovery time, and decrease both pain and post-operative use of narcotics when compared to traditional, heat-based tonsillectomies.
"Throughout the years I've looked for an improved technique that would reduce pain for my patients," Dolitsky said. "Parents should be aware that sleep disordered breathing issues are more easily correctable than before."
To learn more about tonsillectomies visit AAO-HNS at http://www.entnet.org or http://www.tonsilfacts.org.
NOTE TO MEDIA - ARTWORK / B-ROLL IS AVAILABLEArtwork includes:Graphics of tonsillectomy treatment optionsChildren eating sold food following tonsillectomyProduct shots B-roll includes:Surgeon interviewsParent interviewsChildren saying "aahh" during check-upChildren playing after quick recoveryTonsillectomy procedure footageAnimation of Coblation technology
SURVEY METHODOLOGYThe Harris Interactive® survey was conducted online with parents of children age 18 and under who have had a tonsillectomy (261) and parents of children age 18 and under who have not had a tonsillectomy (323) residing in the U.S., between April 15 and April 29, 2005.
ABOUT AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY " HEAD AND NECK SURGERYThe American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery and its Foundation are headquartered in Alexandria, Va. This national medical society represents the nation's 12,000 otolaryngologists—head and neck surgeons, medical specialists trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.
ABOUT HARRIS INTERACTIVE®Harris Interactive (http://harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll®, and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research from its U.S. offices and through wholly owned subsidiaries—London-based HI Europe (http://hieurope.com) Paris-based Novatris and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan—as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of independent market- and opinion-research firms. EOE M/F/D/V
ABOUT ARTHROCARE Founded in 1993, ArthroCare Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTC), (http://www.arthrocareent.com/) is a highly innovative, multi-business medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive surgical products. With these products, ArthroCare targets a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly improving existing surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCare's products are based on its patented Coblation technology, which uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently and precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue -- minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Used in more than four million surgeries worldwide, Coblation-based devices have been developed and marketed for sports medicine; spine/neurologic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); cosmetic; urologic and gynecologic procedures. ArthroCare also has added a number of novel technologies to its portfolio, including Opus Medical sports medicine and Parallax spine products, to complement Coblation within key indications.
RSS