Radiofrequency ablation of the lateral palatal space for snoring

Abstract

ObjectivePilot study to examine the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the lateral palatal fat pad in patients with socially-disruptive snoring.MethodSnoring outcomes and complications were compared between a group of patients with treated with RFA ablation of the lateral soft palate fat pad with or without inferior turbinate reduction (8 patients) and another group undergoing inferior turbinate reduction alone (12 patients).ResultsSnoring loudness and bothersomeness improved in the palate but not inferior turbinate group. Pain was mild and no major complications were observed.ConclusionThe study supports RFA ablation of the lateral palatal space as a potential low morbidity procedure for snoring.

Sleep Apnea Multilevel Surgery (SAMS) trial protocol: a multicenter randomized clinical trial of upper airway surgery for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who have failed continuous positive airway pressure

“…The modified UPPP was a reconstructive procedure to open the lateral velopharyngeal port [17] that included a bilateral tonsillectomy when palatine tonsils were present. It aimed to preserve mucosa and included resection of only the tonsils, lateral palatal space fat pad [17,32], and part of the uvula. Minimally invasive tongue reduction was performed using a Coblation ReFlex XP wand (Smith & Nephew, London, United Kingdom) on Power setting 6 for 15 s per channel with chilled saline.…”

A Brief on Snoring Data and Classification Methods

“…Aside polysomnography which has high financial cost implication [12], other several approaches [3,7], [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] has been proposed in literatures to detect, diagnose and remedy early snoring stage before getting to an unhealthy phase. Lately, methods in the field of signal processing and AI seems to be the promising area to detect snoring and apnea event.…”