title: Comparison of minimally invasive techniques in tongue base surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness and morbidity of 3 microinvasive tongue base surgical procedures combined with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in supine-dependent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty OSA patients were randomly advised to undergo UPPP combined with low-temperature bipolar radiofrequency (group 1), submucosal minimally invasive lingual excision with radiofrequency (SMILE-R; group 2), or submucosal minimally invasive lingual excision with a harmonic scalpel (SMILE-H; group 3). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the visual analog scale (VAS) for snoring, the pre- and postoperative 3-month polysomnography (PSG) findings, and the decrease in tongue volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared. The operation times, the postoperative pain VAS score, the analgesic requirement, and the time in commencing a normal diet were compared in the 3 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decrease in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and supine AHI values at the postoperative 3-month time point was significant in group 2 (P < .05). The decrease in tongue volume at the 3-month postoperative time point according to the MRI evaluations was higher in groups 1 and 2 (P < .05). In the subjective comparison of effectiveness, there was no significant difference. The operation time was significantly lower in group 3. In the assessment of postoperative pain, no significant difference was found between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the PSG findings and MRI were evaluated, UPPP + SMILE-R were found to be more effective. No significant difference was found between the 3 techniques when morbidity and complications were compared.
authors.affiliation: Kecioren Training and Research Hospital Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Babademez
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yorubulut
authors.forename: Muge Fethiye
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yurekli
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gunbey
authors.forename: Selcan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Baran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Riza Murat
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Karasen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009929:Organ Size; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery