Radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base in the treatment of snoring—a pilot study

Abstract

In a previously published study, a significant reduction of snoring was reported after treatment with radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base in the treatment of primary snoring. Twenty patients suffering from primary snoring (AHI < 10/h, body mass index < 32 kg/m(2)) and an isolated hypertrophic tongue base at clinical examination were enrolled in this clinical trial. The patients underwent bipolar radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base under local anaesthesia. Pre- and post-operative body weight, daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale) and snoring scores (visual analogue scales) were evaluated by the patients and their bed partners, respectively. Postoperative follow-up data was collected 6-8 weeks after treatment. A statistically significant reduction of the preoperative snoring levels from 7.5 +/- 2.4 to 6.1 +/- 2.8 was seen after treatment (p < 0.001). Body weight and daytime sleepiness remained unaffected. Only 3 out of 20 patients were satisfied with the result as defined by VAS < 3. Despite statistically significant reduction of the subjective snoring scores after radiofrequency of the tongue base, only minimal clinical improvement was achieved. Only 3 out of 20 patients were satisfied with the results. With regard to the clearly beneficial effect seen in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, this result indicates different pathophysiological principles in the generation of snoring.

Comparison of lateral thermal injury and healing of porcine skin incisions performed by CO2‐laser, monopolar electrosurgery and radiosurgery: a preliminary study based on histological and immunohistochemical results

“…MES operating at frequencies > 2.5-3 MHz) with other surgical and/or ablative modalities, based mostly on animal models 4,5,[24][25][26][27] and rarely on clinical design. [28][29][30] This preliminary study is the first to our knowledge attempting a histological and immunohistochemical comparison of LTI produced during incision of porcine skin by CO2-laser, MES, and MRS and its effects on wound healing. A study of similar design, comparing the same instruments, based solely on histological findings, has been conducted by Silverman et al (2007).…”

“…However, few studies have been conducted to compare the relatively recently introduced in clinical practice MRS (i.e. MES operating at frequencies > 2.5–3 MHz) with other surgical and/or ablative modalities, based mostly on animal models 4,5,24–27 and rarely on clinical design 28–30 …”

Minimally Invasive Radiofrequency Surgery in Sleep-Disordered Breathing

“…Welt et al identified a poor sustained improvement in snoring following single modality radiofrequency treatment in patients with isolated tongue base hypertrophy [32]. This highlights the importance of dynamic airway assessment prior to any intervention.…”

“…This technique’s principal advantage relates to its minimal invasiveness, causing little pain, and the ability to perform under local anaesthetic in some institutions [32]. As with radiofrequency treatment to the soft palate, the disadvantages are associated with the recurrence in symptoms during long-term follow-up and the potential need for multiple treatments [26].…”

Αξιολόγηση Των Μεταβολών Στοματικού Βλεννογόνου Και Δέρματος Μετά Τη Χρήση Διαφόρων Εργαλείων Ιστικής Διατομής Σε Χοίρους

“…(159,247) Ακόμη, πλήθος μελετών συγκρίνουν τις ιστικές επιδράσεις ΜΗΧ και laser CO 2 με εκείνες του συμβατικού μαχαιριδίου (103,158,232,234,238) ή και άλλων εργαλείων ιστικής διατομής, όπως τα διοδικά lasers, (179) τα lasers KTP (157) και Nd:YAG (143,146) ή το υπερηχητικό μαχαιρίδιο (105,226,237) Ωστόσο, λόγω της σχετικά πρόσφατης εισαγωγής της ΥΜΗΧ (που παράγει ηλεκτροχειρουργικό ρεύμα συχνότητας ανώτερης των 2.5-3MHz) στην καθημερινή κλινική πράξη μέχρι σήμερα έχουν διεξαχθεί λίγες μελέτες με σκοπό την σύγκρισή της με άλλα εργαλεία ιστικής διατομής, κυρίως βασιζόμενες σε ζωικά πειραματικά πρότυπα (153,155,156,(248)(249)(250) και σπανιότερα σε κλινικό σχεδιασμό. (12,161,166,240,(251)(252)(253) Η παράπλευρες φωτοθερμικές μεταβολές διαφοροποιούνται σημαντικά ανάλογα με την διάμετρο του σημείου εστίασης της φωτεινής δέσμης. (241) Η εφαρμογή πειραματικού ερευνητικού πρωτοκόλλου για την επίτευξη του σκοπού της μελέτης επιβάλλεται για λόγους κυρίως ηθικής και δεοντολογίας αλλά και για θέματα πρακτικής ευκολίας.…”