First-choice treatment in mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea: single-stage, multilevel, temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction or nasal continuous positive airway pressure.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of single-stage, multilevel, temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction (TCRFTVR) for the soft palate and base of the tongue with that of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in primary treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.


METHODS
A prospective nonrandomized clinical study.


METHODS
Tertiary care referral center.


METHODS
Data from 47 patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea treated between January 1, 2003, and October 31, 2006, were reviewed.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients underwent TCRFTVR and 21 underwent nasal CPAP as a primary treatment modality.


METHODS
Baseline and 12-month posttreatment measurements using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and polysomnography were compared.


RESULTS
The baseline characteristics of the groups were not significantly different. Both methods showed meaningful results for the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and polysomnography variables 12 months after treatment compared with baseline measurements. The results were not significantly different in the posttreatment intergroup comparisons. Treatment success rates were 52.4% for nasal CPAP and 53.8% for TCRFTVR (P = .92).


CONCLUSIONS
Similar comparison results with nasal CPAP in objective and subjective variables make single-stage, multilevel TCRFTVR a good alternative in primary treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Ceylan
Kursat
K
Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Emir
Hatice
H
Kizilkaya
Zeynep
Z
Tastan
Eren
E
Yavanoglu
Ahmet
A
Uzunkulaoglu
Hakki
H
Samim
Erdal
E
Felek
Sevim Arslan
SA
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology