gms | German Medical Science

76th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

04.05. - 08.05.2005, Erfurt

Results of radio frequence therapy (RFT) as sole procedere and in combination with other surgical techniques in the treatment of rhonchopathy/snoring.

Meeting Abstract

Search Medline for

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 76. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.. Erfurt, 04.-08.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05hno436

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/hno2005/05hno231.shtml

Published: September 22, 2005

© 2005 Boeger et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

In the treatment of rhonchopathy an frequently discussed issue is which surgical technique is used an to which extent it is appropriate. The results of surgical intervention must be comparable to those of the non-invasive therapy with nCPAP. A reduction of the RDI and snoring is to be achieved. In the surgical treatment peri- and postoperative morbidity such as pain, dysphagia and other side effects have to be considered. During the last years RFT has become more important in the treatment of rhonchopathy.Goal of the following study is to give a statement about success and side effects of the treatment with RFT.

58 patients treated with RFT as sole surgical technique or in combination with either UVPP (uvulovelopharyngoplastic) or LAUP (laserassisted uvuloplastic) were evaluated.

Application of RFT in addition to UVPP or LAUP showed a success in 96 % according to the reduction of snoring postoperativly reported by the patients. Solely applicated RFT showed an improvement in 77%. The duration between surgery and postoperative check-up was 11.6 months in the mean.

RFT in the area of the soft palate and the tongue base seems to be a useful complementation and alternative to conventionell partly radical surgical treatment. Especially the application in local anesthesia is in great interest for both patient and physician.