title: Controlled trial of combined radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty in the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate OSAS (pilot study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of radiofrequency treatment (RFT) of the soft palate and combined radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (RF-UPP) in the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the study group consisting of 32 snoring and mild to moderate OSAHS patients with excessive soft tissue of the soft palate or uvula, 13 patients underwent RFT of the soft palate and 19 patients underwent combined RF-UPP. The baseline and posttreatment polysomnography and clinical test battery consisting of Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), Lithuanian version of Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI-LT), Spielberg's Trait-State Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were applied to assess the treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a short-term follow-up of 2 to 3 months, the group of the RFT patients showed improvement in mean VAS snoring and SAQLI-LT scores, while the group of RF-UPP patients showed statistically significantly improvement in mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (12.51 ± 7.66 vs. 7.88 ± 6.05, p < 0.05, β = 0.107), SAQLI-LT, and BDI-II scores. The group of RF-UPP patients had superior and statistically significant improvement compared to the RFT alone patients with regard to mean AHI (effect size 4.63 ± 4.65 vs. 0.95 ± 4.83, p < 0.05) and SAQLI-LT (effect size 0.75 ± 0.59 vs. 0.33 ± 0.40, p < 0.05) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined RF-UPP showed to be effective in the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate OSAS overcoming the RFT alone.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, Kaunas 50009, Lithuania. balseviciai@gmail.com
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Balsevičius
authors: Virgilijus
authors: V
authors: Uloza
authors: Saulius
authors: S
authors: Vaitkus
authors: Raimundas
authors: R
authors: Sakalauskas
authors: Skaidrius
authors: S
authors: Miliauskas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D011788:Quality of Life; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult