[Radiofrequency treatment in simple snoring: tolerance, safety and results]

Abstract

Objective: Snoring is a non-pathologic social problem. In the search for non-aggressive efficacious treatment, we introduce our experience in using temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment for snoring.

Methods: A 6-month follow-up revision of thirty-seven patients that received a mean of 1.1 radiofrequency treatment sessions at turbinates, soft palate, tonsils and/or tongue-base.

Results: Mean sample age was 39.6+-9 years; mean BMI was 29.5±4. Good tolerance was presented by 78% of our patients, 78% had no postoperative pain complaints and 68.3% no postoperative symptoms a week after procedure. Minor complications (mainly mucosal breakdown) were presented by 14.6% of the patients. The snoring score went from a mean of 8.6 to 5.6 on the visual analogue scale; 86.5% of the patients improved their clinical snoring and 37.8% were cured of it. Epworth daytime somnolence test results went from mean 9.3 to 6.1.

Conclusions: Radiofrequency is a procedure that is safe, well-tolerated and fairly painless postoperatively, effective in improving clinical snoring in simple snorers. Radiofrequency is an effective primary treatment for snoring whose cause is accessible to radiofrequency.