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Volume 8 Issue 1 (January, 2020)

Original Articles

Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation- A Treatment Modality for Upper Airway Disorders
Vaibhav Madane, Nandu Kolwadkar, Priyadershini Rangari

Background: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) is a well-known treatment modality. The proposed advantages of RFTA over conventional procedures include less pain, faster healing and reduced postoperative care. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of radiofrequency thermal ablation as treatment of pathological conditions of upper airway tissues. Methods: A total 25 healthy patients having sleep-disordered breathing were enrolled to the study. Radiofrequency energy was delivered to the soft palate Snoring Score, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and cephalometric analysis, certain inflammatory laboratory parameters and visual analogue scale scores were measured related to the procedure. Results: reported that immediately post-treatment mild discomfort, swelling of the soft palate, mild Speech and swallowing difficulties, mucosal ulcerations and tissue loss which was majorly resolved within 2 days after treatment. Snoring in habitual snorers was reduced. Shrinkage in the length of the soft palate was observed. There were no notable changes in the laboratory parameters. The symptom visual analogue scores were low and transient, resolving within days. 5 cases of relapse were observed. Conclusion: RFTA might be regarded as a good minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of patients with habitual snoring and day time sleepiness but with no anatomical abnormalities. More studies with larger sample size are required to validate our results and to provide more emphasis on complications associated with this treatment. Key words: Posterior Airway Space (PAS), Radiofrequency thermal ablation, snoring (RFTA), soft palate, upper airways, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

 
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