Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty with tonsillectomy.
Radiofrequency surgery was introduced to minimize thermal damage to the tissue. A radiofrequency electrode can be used to make cuts in the free edge of the soft palate like those done in laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty [radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (RAUP)]. Tonsillectomy can enlarge the lateral diameter of the pharynx. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of RAUP with tonsillectomy in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Ninety-two patients with obstructive sleep apnea were included in this study. Patients were categorized according to disease severity and Friedman's staging system. Patients were assessed with the preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for snoring, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) at baseline and repeated at 6 months postoperatively. The intensity of postoperative pain, speech deficits and dysphagia were also recorded. There was a significant improvement in the VAS score for snoring, ESS and AHI before and after surgery. Overall, the results of the present study indicated a surgery success rate (a 50 % decrease in AHI and AHI <20) of 66 % (61 of 92 patients). Postoperative pain, speech deficits and dysphagia were reduced at 2 weeks after surgery. The results of this study suggest that RAUP with tonsillectomy is an effective treatment for patients with OSAS.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, 620-5 Kyohyun-dong, Chungju-si, Chungbuk 380-704, South Korea. lim516@gmail.com
Dae Jun
DJ
Lim
Sung-Ho
SH
Kang
Bo-Hyeng
BH
Kim
Seok-Chan
SC
Hong
Myeong Sang
MS
Yu
Young-Hyun
YH
Kim
Jeong-Seok
JS
Choi
Kwang Ho
KH
Jin
D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*