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Efficacy of radiofrequency treatment of the soft palate for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: treatment protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate

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Abstract

Purpose

The study aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety of a radiofrequency treatment (RFT) protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate in the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Methods

Twenty-eight mild to moderate OSAHS patients underwent two sessions of RFT (CelonLab ENT system) at the palatal level within the interval from 6 to 8 weeks. Nine lesions (power setting of 10 W) were made per session.

The baseline and posttreatment polysomnography and clinical tests battery consisting of visual analogue scales (VAS), Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), Beck Depression Inventory—second edition (BDI-II), and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were applied to assess the RFT outcomes.

Results

Mild to moderate OSAHS patients demonstrated statistically significantly reduced posttreatment mean VAS values for most of the OSAHS-related complaints. A significant improvement in sleepiness (ESS score 6.7 ± 3.7 vs 8.5 ± 4.1, p < 0.01), depressivity (BDI-II score 7.5 ± 6.5 vs 13.1 ± 11.7, p < 0.01), and health-related quality of life (SAQLI score 5.3 ± 0.8 vs 4.7 ± 0.9, p < 0.01) was observed after the RFT. The mean AHI decreased from 13.7 ± 5.9 to 8.3 ± 4.9 points (p < 0.01) in the entire group of patients. According to Sher’s criteria of success, 17 out of 28 (60.7 %) patients improved after RFT. No major complications were noted with RFT.

Conclusions

RFT protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate seems to be an effective and safe treatment modality associated with low morbidity in selected mild to moderate OSAHS patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relevant to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, Kaunas, 50009, Lithuania

    Tomas Balsevičius & Virgilijus Uloza

  2. Department of Pulmonology and Immunology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Raimundas Sakalauskas & Skaidrius Miliauskas

  3. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Indre Jarutienė

Authors
  1. Tomas Balsevičius
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  2. Virgilijus Uloza
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  3. Raimundas Sakalauskas
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  4. Skaidrius Miliauskas
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  5. Indre Jarutienė
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Correspondence to Tomas Balsevičius.

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Balsevičius, T., Uloza, V., Sakalauskas, R. et al. Efficacy of radiofrequency treatment of the soft palate for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: treatment protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate. Sleep Breath 19, 1003–1009 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1004-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1004-y

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