Coblation-assisted Lewis and MacKay operation (CobLAMO): new technique for tongue reduction in sleep apnoea surgery

Abstract

No significant complications were noted in the four patients. (Results of the post-surgical outcomes are presented in another paper.) The coblation-assisted Lewis and MacKay operation reduced the potential complications of aggressive tongue surgery. The contours of the tongue were maintained, but significant reduction was still achieved.

Beyond uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnoea: single surgeon case series of contemporary airway reconstruction

“…22 The procedures utilised in the 22 airway reconstruction operations reported here (for 17 patients) have been described elsewhere. These included a modified Robinson type uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, 22 transpalatal advancement, 23 coblation channelling of the tongue, 24 endoscopic lingual tonsillectomy or lingual tonsil reduction, submucosal lingualplasty, 25 and a new procedure referred to as a coblation-assisted Lewis and MacKay operation ('CobLAMO') 26 . This latter procedure combines a midline glossectomy, 25 post-op = post-operation similar to the initial stage of submucosal lingualplasty, with lateral coblation channels as described by Zhang et al 24 To our knowledge, this is the first report of a tongue resection combined with an ablative channelling procedure.…”

Cirugía del sueño: Definición de una especialidad emergente, propuesta de una clasificación anatomofuncional integral e indicaciones

“…• Glosectomías del cuerpo lingual En este grupo se busca el retiro de porciones musculares y/o mucosas de la lengua, desde un abordaje por delante de la V lingual (aunque pueden extenderse a base de lengua). Se incluyen: glosectomía anterior, glosectomía media submucosa de Woodson 42 , linguoplastía submucosa de Robinson 43 , SMILE (submucosal minimally invasive lingual excision) 44 y CobLAMO (coblation-assisted Lewis and MacKay operation) 45 .…”

An update on the current management of adult obstructive sleep apnoea

“…When tongue size and position are identified as contributing factors, tongue surgery may be beneficial. This can be achieved effectively via radiofrequency, 42 coblation, 38 midline glossectomy and other variants, 43,44 lingual tonsil reduction 45 or, rarely, tongue tensing surgery. 46 Trans-oral robotic surgery has been used with varying success.…”