Radiofrequency of the soft palate for sleep-disordered breathing: a 6-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term (>3 years) outcome of patients suffering from simple snoring or non-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treated by radiofrequency ablation of the soft palate. STUDY DESIGN: Observational retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven subjects were included between 1999 and 2006. Twenty-seven suffered from mild or moderate OSAS. All patients were treated by radiofrequency-assisted stiffening of the soft palate, with or without uvulectomy. Snoring (assessed on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS)), marital status, presence of cardiovascular risk factors or pathologies and follow-up time were evaluated by postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 6.3 ± 2.3 years. Mean snoring intensity decreased significantly in the immediate postoperative period (8.1 ± 2.9 to 3.5 ± 2.2 cm on VAS). Over the longer term, however, we observed a significant increase in snoring intensity (5.7 ± 2.9 cm), which nevertheless remained below the preoperative values (P<0.001). Bed-partners noticed a relapse of snoring in 92.7% of cases. Nine percent of couples separated. Hypertension and diabetes were diagnosed during follow-up in 12.1% and 6.6% of the subjects, respectively. A majority of patients failed to undergo repeat polysomnography or further treatment. CONCLUSION: Relapse of snoring was observed in nearly all patients in the long run, although intensity appears to remain lower than preoperatively. Most patients did not comply with the follow-up instructions and did not seek other forms of treatment when recurrence occurred.

Primary open angle glaucoma and snoring: prevalence of OSAS.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may be suspected at interview, notably in case of snoring. Various studies suggested a link between primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and OSAS. The present study sought to determine OSAS prevalence in POAG associated with snoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one snoring glaucomatous patients prospectively underwent simplified polysomnography. Ophthalmologic examination ruled out secondary glaucoma and assessed the glaucomatous neuropathy. RESULTS: 49% of the patients included were diagnosed with OSAS. Ophthalmologically, glaucoma showed no specific characteristics. CONCLUSION: Given the high-prevalence of OSAS in patients with POAG, presence of snoring should be explored at interview. Conversely, patients who snore should be asked whether they have POAG, and if so, should undergo all-night sleep recording to explore for OSAS.

Characteristics of tracheostomy phonation valves.

Phonation valves are commonly used devices that allow the restoration of speech in tracheostomised patients. However, their use should not compromise the physiological benefit of tracheostomy. Six commercialised phonation valves were studied in a dynamic set-up simulating a respiratory frequency of 20 breaths.min(-1), a tidal volume of 0.5 L and a peak flow rate of 0.5 L.s(-1). Resistance and additional work of breathing (WOB) were calculated. In 10 tracheostomised patients, evaluations using no phonation valve (baseline), and the most and one of the least resistive valves were carried out. Respiratory patterns and gas exchanges were recorded. Inspiratory difficulty was evaluated using the modified Borg scale. Valves displayed a wide array of resistance ranging 1.3-5.9 cmH2O.L(-1).s(-1). Additional WOB varied with a ratio of 4.4 between the best and the worst valve. While the different clinical conditions did not modify respiratory patterns and gas exchanges, a significant effect on the Borg scale rating was observed using ANOVA and post hoc analysis of baseline versus worst valve and one of the best valves versus worst valve. In conclusion, the variety of aerodynamic characteristics of phonation valves should be considered when choosing the device, according to the underlying condition of the patients benefiting from their use.

[Treatment of snoring with controlled temperature radiofrequency: short- and mid-term tolerance and efficacy]. / Le traitement du ronflement par radiofréquence avec contrôle thermique (Somnoplasty): tolérance et efficacité à court et moyen terme.

UNLABELLED: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and laser pharyngotomy can provide effective and definitive cure of snoring. These methods are however very painful. The ideal treatment would be not only effective but also pain free. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed prospectively the efficacy and tolerance to temperature controlled radiofrequency (somnoplasty). This technique was applied to the velar palate in 15 snoring patients. Self assessment was used to evaluate outcome. The patients daily recorded: uneasiness, pain, drug use, and food intake. Their spouse scored snoring for 6 to 8 weeks after the end of treatment and more than 6 months after the last treatment session. RESULTS: We achieved 80% success after 2.1 sessions. Pain was minimal. A sensation of uneasiness was frequent and led to minimal drug use. After a mean 13 months, half of the patients experienced a recurrence or an aggravation of their snoring level. Overall satisfaction rate was 69%. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that radiofrequency is well tolerated and effective in the short- and mid-term for the treatment of snoring.

A comparative model: reaction time performance in sleep-disordered breathing versus alcohol-impaired controls.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with sleep-disordered breathing have reaction time deficits that may lead to catastrophic accidents and loss of life. Although safety guidelines do not exist for unsafe levels of sleepiness, they have been established for unsafe levels of alcohol consumption. Since reaction time performance is altered in both, we prospectively used seven measures of reaction time performance as a comparative model in alcohol-challenged normal subjects with corresponding measures in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing. STUDY DESIGN: Institutional Review Board-approved, nonrandomized prospective controlled study. METHODS: Eighty healthy volunteers (29.1+/-7.5 y of age, 56.3% female subjects) performed four reaction time trials using a psychomotor test at baseline and at three subsequent rising alcohol-influenced time points. The same test without alcohol was given to 113 subjects (47.2+/-10.8 y of age, 19.3% female subjects) with mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing. RESULTS: Mean blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) in the alcohol-influenced subjects at baseline and three trials were 0, 0.057, 0.080, and 0.083 g/dL. The sleep-disordered subjects had mean respiratory disturbance indices of 29.2 events per hour of sleep. On all seven reaction time measures, their performance was worse than that of the alcohol subjects when BACs were 0.057 g/dL. For three of the measures, the sleep-disordered subjects performed as poorly as or worse than the alcohol subjects when alcohol levels were 0.080 g/dL. These results could not be explained by sex or age differences. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that sleep-disordered subjects in this study (with a mean age of 47 y) with mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing had worse test reaction time performance parameters than healthy, nonsleepy subjects (with a mean age of 29 y) whose BAC is illegally high for driving a commercial motor vehicle in California. This comparative model points out the potential risks of daytime sleepiness in those with sleep-disordered breathing relative to a culturally accepted standard of impairment.

Tongue base reduction with hyoepiglottoplasty: a treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a surgical procedure for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the procedure's indications, and its results. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of 10 male patients with OSAS treated by tongue base reduction with hyoepiglottoplasty (TBRHE) at the Foch Hospital (Suresnes, France) between 1994 and 1997. Patients had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32 kg/m2, a mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 70 events/h, and a mean minimal oxygen saturation of 78%. They had refused positive airway pressure therapy or wished to discontinue it. METHODS: Subtotal tongue base reduction preceded by lingual neurovascular bundle identification and derouting, epiglottal verticalization, mouth floor horizontalization, and hyoid bone repositioning was performed, associated in some cases to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Indications were based on a site-related obstruction, on the absence of craniofacial deficiencies, and on the presence of hyolingual abnormalities determined by cephalometry and magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: TBRHE associated to UPPP in most cases had an 80% success rate, based on a postoperative RDI below 20 events/h and a reduction of the preoperative RDI of more than 50%. Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness decreased or disappeared, respectively, in 100% and 90% of the cases. No neurovascular complications occurred. CONCLUSION: TBRHE is a safe procedure for the neurovascular bundle. Associated to a pharyngotomy, it is an effective treatment for severe OSAS attributable to tongue base obstruction. These results require confirmation in a larger series of patients.

Radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of the palate in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pain, swallowing, speech, edematous response, tissue shrinkage, sleep, snoring, and safety (energy limits and adverse effects) following radiofrequency (RF) treatment to the palate in 22 subjects with sleep-disordered breathing. DESIGN: This investigation is a prospective nonrandomized study. Polysomnography, radiographic imaging, and infrared thermography, along with questionnaires and visual analog scales, were used to evaluate the effects of RF treatment to the palate. SETTING: Treatments were delivered on an outpatient basis at Stanford University Medical Center. PATIENTS: Twenty-two healthy patients (18 men), with a mean age of 45.3+/-9.1 years, were enrolled. All were snorers seeking treatment and met predetermined criteria: a respiratory disturbance index < or = 15, oxygen saturation > or = 85%, and a complaint of daytime sleepiness. INTERVENTION: RF was delivered to the submucosa of the palate with a custom-fabricated electrode for a mean duration of 141+/-30 s with a mean of 3.6+/-1.2 treatments per patient. Reduction of their snoring scores determined the end point of the study. RESULTS: Neither speech nor swallowing was adversely affected. Pain was of short duration (0 to 48 h) and was controlled with acetaminophen. There were no infections. Although there was documented edema at 24 to 48 h, there were no clinical airway compromises. Polysomnographic data showed improvement in esophageal pressure measurements of the mean nadir and the 95th percentile nadir (p=0.031, p=0.001) respectively, as well as the mean sleep efficiency index (p=0.002). Radiographic imaging showed a mean shrinkage of 5.5+/-3.7 mm (p< or =0.0001). Subjective snoring scores fell by a mean of 77% (8.3+/-1.8 to 1.9+/-1.7, p=0.0001) accompanied by improved mean Epworth sleepiness scores (8.5+/-4.4 to 5.2+/-3.3, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation allowed the formulation of safety parameters for RF in this defined population with mild sleep-disordered breathing. There was a documented tissue reduction and improvement in symptoms in all subjects. However, given the small sample size and short-term follow-up, these results should be confirmed by further investigation.

Radiofrequency volumetric reduction of the tongue. A porcine pilot study for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate, in an animal model, the feasibility of radiofrequency (RF) volumetric tongue reduction for the future purpose of determining its clinical applications in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). DESIGN: The study was performed in three stages, one in vitro bovine stage and two in vivo porcine stages. The last stage was a prospective investigation with histologic and volumetric analyses to establish outcomes. SETTING: Laboratory and operating room of veterinary research center. PARTICIPANTS: A homogeneous population of porcine animal models, including seven in stage 2 and 12 in stage 3. INTERVENTION: RF energy was delivered by a custom-fabricated needle electrode and RF generator to the tongue tissue of both the in vitro and in vivo models. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Microultransonic crystals were used to measure three-dimensional changes (volumetric reduction). Lesion size correlated well with increasing RF energy delivery (Sperman correlation coefficient of 0.986; p = 0.0003). Histologic assessments done serially over time (1 h through 3 weeks) showed a well-circumscribed lesion with a normal healing progression and no peripheral damage to nerves. Volumetric analysis documented a very mild initial edematous response that promptly tapered at 24 h. At 10 days after RF, a 26.3% volume reduction was documented at the treatment site (circumscribed by the microultrasonic crystals). CONCLUSION: RF, in a porcine animal model, can safely reduce tongue volume in a precise and controlled manner. Further studies will validate the use of RF in the treatment of OSAS.