By Karen Dente
NEW YORK, May 29 (Reuters Health) - A new type of surgery may provide a
promising and effective alternative to current therapies for an age-old
problem--snoring.
This new procedure, known as radiofrequency tissue volume reduction (RFTVR)
or somnoplasty, is minimally invasive, using a low-intensity radiofrequency
signal to remove part of the soft palate with only slight injury to surrounding
tissue. The technique has already proved useful in treating other problems due
to overgrowth of tissue, such as benign prostate enlargement.
To treat snoring, RFTVR is used to remove part of the soft palate, and
causes some local scarring. The scarring acts to stiffen and shorten the soft
palate, the divide between the nasal cavity and the mouth, reducing its tendency
to vibrate, a common cause of snoring.
Dr. David R. Hillman and colleagues at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in
Perth, Australia, claim that this procedure has fewer side effects than
conventional surgery. In addition, it is well tolerated and is performed under
local anesthesia with only mild postoperative discomfort reported. "It is
possible (and reasonable) for most patients to return to work the same day that
the procedure is performed," Hillman told Reuters Health.
A minor side effect experienced in only 5% of cases is a small ulcer that
can occur when the radiofrequency energy has been placed too superficially and
breaks through to the surface. They heal quickly, within a few days, and the
associated discomfort is small, according to Hillman.
But this approach is not effective in all patients, Hillman noted. This is
because the site of the problem in patients with snoring trouble does not always
involve the upper roof of the mouth, but can also be seen as a result of the
collapsing of airways in the back of the throat. In this case, the more
conventional surgical methods are more effective, he noted.
