Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified coblation endoscopic lingual lightening to address retrolingual obstruction in multilevel surgery for obstructive sleep apneae (OSA).
Methods: Patients with OSA due to retropalatal and retrolingual obstructions were enrolled. Group 1 consisted of patients who underwent modified coblation endoscopic lingual lightening combined with H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, while group 2 comprised patients treated by H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty alone. Objective parameters and subjective evaluations were recorded preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively.
Results: The mean (standard deviation) apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) declined from 51.5 (18.9) to 14.3 (7.2) in group 1, and from 51.7 (15.8) to 28.5 (16.9) in group 2. The mean (standard deviation) percentage change in AHI was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (73.2 [10.9] vs. 48.9 [22.4], P < 0.01). The surgical response rate differed significantly between groups 1 and 2 (88.5 [23/26] vs. 46.7 [14/30], P < 0.01). Other outcomes, including the lowest oxygen saturation, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, snoring visual analog scale score, and subjective improvement rate, were also significantly better in group 1 than in group 2.
Conclusion: Without increasing complications, modified coblation endoscopic lingual lightening significantly improved surgical outcomes as part of multilevel surgery in patients with OSA due to multilevel obstruction.
Keywords: H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty; Modified coblation endoscopic lingual lightening; Obstructive sleep apnea; Retrolingual obstruction; Retropalatal obstruction.
© 2023. The Author(s).