Multilevel radiofrequency ablation for snoring and OSAHS patients therapy: long-term outcomes

Our objective is to evaluate the outcomes of the Radio-Frequency (RF) energy for tissue thermo-ablation therapy in sleep-disordered breathing patients and retrospective evaluation of the RF therapy after a 5-year follow-up period, in terms of snoring and apnea reduction. From June 1999 to June 2009, we enrolled patients suffering from simple snoring and patients with obstructive apnea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS). A visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of snoring and was filled out in short- and long-term periods, whereas in OSAHS patients an unattended polysomnography was performed before and after a minimum of 6 months from the last RF therapy treatment session. The presence of post-operative pain was assessed by means of a specific VAS. Results stated that 187/250 patients finished the RF therapy. In the simple snoring group, mean snoring VAS decreased from 7.48 to 3.7 (P < 0.0001). In the post-operative snoring group, mean snoring VAS decreased from 7.6 to 3.6 (P < 0.0001). In the mild-to-moderate grade OSAHS group, AHI decreased from a mean value of 18.1 to a mean value of 12.9 (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, we recorded a mean post-operative pain VAS of one in each group of patients. Our results suggest an important role of RF therapy in the improvement of snoring solution, but not for a significant AHI reduction. Level of evidence 2c.