OBJECTIVEPresent and evaluate the currently available literature reporting on the effectiveness of adenotonsillectomy (T/A) in treating obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in uncomplicated pediatric patients.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGSystematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis of the reduction of the polysomnogram (PSG)‐measured Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI events/hour) resulting from T/A and the overall success rate of T/A in normalizing PSG measurements (%).RESULTSFourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Mean sample size was 28. All were case series (level 4 evidence). The summary change in AHI was a reduction of 13.92 events per hour (random effects model 95% CI 10.05–17.79, P < 0.001) from T/A. The summary success rate of T/A in normalizing PSG was 82.9% (random effects model 95% CI 76.2%–89.5%, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCET/A is effective in the treatment of OSAHS. However, success rates are far below 100%, which could have far‐reaching pediatric public health consequences.