Trans-Oral Robotic Tongue Reduction for OSA: Does Lingual Anatomy Influence the Surgical Outcome?

Overview

Journal J Clin Sleep Med

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2018 Aug 11

PMID 30092891

Citations 4

Authors

Giovanni Cammaroto

Giuseppe Meccariello

Matteo Costantini

Francesco Stomeo

Paul Hoff

Filippo Montevecchi

Claudio Vicini

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Study Objectives: To evaluate both the influence of the volume of the excised base of tongue (BOT) on the surgical outcome after robotic tongue reduction in patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the role of the lymphatic or muscular predominance within the removed tissue.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with OSA were included in this study. All patients were treated with a robotic tongue base reduction. Data registered for the analysis were: age, sex, preoperative body mass index, preoperative and postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), delta AHI (preoperative AHI - postoperative AHI), total volume of the excised BOT, total thickness of excised BOT, isolated lymphatic thickness and soft tissue thickness (including muscular component) of the excised BOT, and lymphatic/soft tissue ratio (lymphatic thickness / soft tissue thickness).

Results: A statistically significant reduction of AHI values was seen postoperatively, and a success rate of 74.5% was recorded. However, no significant correlations between delta AHI and tongue volume in cubic centimeters, lymphatic/soft tissue ratio, and total thickness were found.

Conclusions: These findings reinforce the general opinion that OSA is not only influenced by anatomic factors but other phenomena may play a fundamental role in its genesis. A deeper understanding of OSA pathogenesis is needed in order to tailor an individual treatment strategy that could lead to a more effective therapy.

Citing Articles

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Comparison of transoral robotic surgery with other surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea.

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Dallan I, Cristofani-Mencacci L, Seccia V, Cambi C, Fiacchini G, Berrettini S Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019; 276(12):3543-3548.

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