Temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction in the human soft palate

SHER, AARON E. MD
FLEXON, PHILLIP B. MD
HILLMAN, DAVID MD
EMERY, BRIAN MD
SWIECA, JOHN MB, BS, FRACP
SMITH, TIMOTHY L. MD, MPH
CARTWRIGHT, ROSALIND PHD
DIERKS, ERIC MD, DMD, FACS
NELSON, LIONEL MD, FACS

Albany, New York, Savannah, Georgia, Baltimore, Maryland, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Portland, Oregon, Nedlands, Western Australia, East Melbourne, Australia, Chicago, Illinois, and San Jose, California
From the Capital Region Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Dr Sher); Georgia Ear Institute (Dr Flexon); University of Maryland Medical Center (Dr Emery); Medical College of Wisconsin (Dr Smith); Oregon Health Services University (Dr Dierks); Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (Dr Hillman); Mercy Private Hospital (Dr Swieca); Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center (Dr Cartwright); and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Dr Nelson).

Funding provided by Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA.

Reprint requests: Aaron E. Sher, MD, Capital Region Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 6 Executive Park Drive, Albany, NY 12203; e-mail, [email protected].

0194-5998/2001/$35.00 + 0 23/1/119141

doi:10.1067/mhn.2001.119141

Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery 125(4):p 312-318, October 2001.

OBJECTIVE:

To validate the use of temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy applied to the soft palate in a multicenter setting for reduction of snoring in a minimally morbid manner.

METHODS:

Prospective, nonrandomized multicenter study of 113 patients who had a respiratory disturbance index less than 15 and minimum oxygen saturation not less than 85% and who were seeking treatment for habitual disruptive snoring. Patients were given either single or multiple lesions to the soft palate during each treatment session.

RESULTS:

Patients received 1978 J on average with an overall average of 2.4 treatments. Snoring scores went from an average of 7.8 (visual analog scale (VAS), 0-10) pretreatment to 3.2 posttreatment. Pain was minimal, averaging 1.7 (VAS 0-10) on days 1 to 6. Complications were few and transient, and mild.

CONCLUSIONS:

The multiple lesion protocol was the most successful; reducing snoring from 7.6 to 2.7, on a VAS with an average of 1232 J delivered over 1.6 treatments. Temperature-controlled radiofrequency was found to be a minimally invasive, well-tolerated procedure that was safe and efficacious in this study group. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;125:312-8.)