Tongue base reduction with radiofrequency tissue ablation.: Morbidity and complications

Background and objective. Tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a minimally invasive technique. Repeated application leads to a progressive shrinking of the tissue. Patients and Methods. In our study,we summarize the experiences gained from 100 tongue base reductions and compare them with the pilot study that was recently published. An intensified treatment scheme was used with higher amounts of energy applied per treatment session. Visual analogue scales were used for the assessment of postoperative pain and functional parameters. Regular follow-up visits were scheduled to evaluate postoperative complications. Results. Postoperative pain was mostly mild or moderate. Paraoperative complications were not observed. The overall rate for postoperative complications was 8%, with 2% mild and 5% moderate complications. One severe complication - a tongue base abscedation - was observed. Using para- and postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the rate of complications. Functional parameters such as taste or swallowing were not affected. Conclusions. Our results underline the safety of the procedure and demonstrate the minimal para- and postoperative morbidity. The increased amount of energy applied per session has not led to an increase in postoperative morbidity.