title: Radiofrequency volumetric reduction of the palate: An extended follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency (RF) of the palate on speech, swallowing, taste, sleep, and snoring 12 to 18 months after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients were evaluated by clinical examination, questionnaires, and visual analog scales. The patients with relapse of snoring were offered further RF treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a mean follow-up of 14 months, no adverse effect was reported. Subjective snoring scores relapsed by 29% overall. Nine patients (41%) noted relapse of snoring from 2.1 +/- 1. 1 to 5.7 +/- 2.7 (P < 0.001). Eight of the patients underwent further RF treatment with a reduction of snoring from 5.8 +/- 2.9 to 3.3 +/- 3.1 (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The success of RF volumetric reduction of the palate diminishes with time, as with other surgical procedures of the palate. However, the minimal invasiveness of the RF provided a high patient acceptance for retreatment, and relapse of snoring can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Troell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guilleminault
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*