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Snoring intensity after a first session of soft palate radiofrequency
Author(s) -
Blumen Marc Bernard,
Vezina Jean Philippe,
Bequig Emilie,
Chabolle Frederic
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.23800
Subject(s) - medicine , soft palate , intensity (physics) , visual analogue scale , obstructive sleep apnea , retrospective cohort study , audiology , anesthesia , surgery , physics , quantum mechanics
Objectives/Hypothesis To determine whether snoring sound intensity measured after a first soft palate radiofrequency (RF) session for simple snoring helps predict the final result of the treatment. Study Design Observational retrospective study. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 105 subjects presenting with simple snoring or mild sleep apnea. All patients underwent two to three sessions of RF‐assisted stiffening of the soft palate. In addition, uvulectomy was performed in case of a long uvula, and two paramedian trenches were created in the presence of palatal webbing. Snoring sound intensity was evaluated by the bed partner after each session. Results Eighty‐six men and 19 women were included in the study. Mean age was 51.7 ± 9.8 years, and mean body mass index was 24.7 ± 4.4 kg/m 2 . The mean apnea/hypopnea index was 6.6 ± 4.2/h. The mean snoring sound intensity, as evaluated on a 10‐cm visual analog scale (VAS), decreased from 8.2 ± 1.5 to 3.5 ± 2.2 after all sessions ( P < .0001). A score of 3 was determined as being a score that satisfied the bed partner. Two groups were formed according to the final snoring sound intensity, using 3 as a threshold. Both groups had similar preoperative characteristics, but the snoring sound intensity was significantly lower after the first session in the group with final score <3 ( P = .01). Similarly, a VAS score >7 after the first session was associated with a final score <3 in 30% of the cases. Conclusions Snoring sound intensity after the first RF session helps predict the final outcome of RF‐assisted stiffening of the soft palate for simple snoring. Level of Evidence 4.