Palatoplasty versus radiofrequncy palatal surgery for management of obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a huge problem affecting large sector of people all over the world with great social and physiological effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of radio frequency palatal. Surgery and palatoplasty in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea OSA. Patients and Methods: This study included 70 patients with mild to moderate OSA Group A: n=35 (Tonsillectomy and palatal radio frequency surgery) and Group B n=35 (Tonsillectomy and palatoplasty), this study investigate the effect of radio frequncy technique and palatoplasty on retropalatal anteroposterior diameter, Epworth Steepness Scale, apnea Hypopnia Index in Treatment of OSA. Results: This study found that both techniques improved day time sleepiness with reduction of apnea- hypopnea index (AHI), also there was marked improvement in radiological parameters in the form of increase of the anteroposterior diameter and retro-palatal cross section area, in postoperative in both groups but there was superiority of group A over group B in improvement of this parameters, group A success rate was 81.3% and Group B was 78.6% Conclusion: radio frequency palatal surgery and palatoplasty both are effective as a treatment of obstructive sleep apnea due to retro-palatal collapse.