Utilization of Silicone Sheet as a Protective Guide During Transoral Robotic Tongue Base Surgery

This article presents a simple technique where a silicone sheet is used during transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to protect the upper airway structures from thermal damage during a base of tongue procedure. We review 10 cases of TORS tongue base reduction with the use of this technique, with no complications and with reduction of thermal damage to the lingual epiglottis and surrounding pharyngeal wall. Furthermore, it served as a guide during tongue base dissection to provide visual and tactile feedback to the inferior limit of resection, as well as to protect the endotracheal tube. The silicone sheet is an ideal material for use as a thermal barrier due to its widespread availability, intrinsic thermal properties, and translucency. The technique of using the silicone sheet is easy to implement and may prove useful to many transoral robotic surgeons, especially for newly trained TORS users and trainees.

Maxillomandibular Advancement and Upper Airway Stimulation: Extrapharyngeal Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are many ways to categorize surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), one of which is to distinguish between intrapharyngeal and extrapharyngeal procedures. While the general otolaryngologist treating OSA is familiar with intrapharyngeal procedures, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tongue base reduction, extrapharyngeal sleep operations such as maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) and upper airway stimulation (UAS) have evolved rapidly in the recent decade and deserve a dedicated review. MMA and UAS have both shown predictable high success rates with low morbidity. Each approach has unique strengths and limitations, and for the most complex of OSA patients, the two in combination complement each other. Extrapharyngeal airway operations are critical for achieving favorable outcomes for sleep surgeons.

Transoral Robotic Surgery versus Plasma Ablation for Tongue Base Reduction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Meta-analysis

Objectives To compare the effectiveness of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) versus plasma ablation (PA) in tongue base reduction surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Data Sources PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, OVID. Review Methods Keywords searched included OSA, tongue base surgery, TORS, and coblation. Outcomes included pre- to postoperative apnea-hypopnea index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and lowest oxygen saturation. Additional outcomes included surgical success rate, postoperative bleeding, operative time, and length of stay. Results A total of 690 unique articles were identified, of which 60 underwent full-text review. Twenty-six articles were included in final analysis, comprising 18 studies on TORS (834 patients) and 11 studies on PA (294 patients). Mean differences of apnea-hypopnea index, ESS, and lowest oxygen saturation for TORS were –23.92, –7.6, and 5.83% (all P < .01). Corresponding values for PA were –22.07, –4.14, and 5.48% (all P < .00001). TORS had greater ESS reduction than PA ( P = .02). Follow-up duration was shorter in TORS than PA (mean ± SD: 4.2 ± 2.6 vs 4.6 ± 1.4 months, P = .0482). Surgical success rates in TORS and PA were similar (57.6% vs 60.3%, P = .4474). Postoperative bleeding occurred less frequently in TORS versus PA (3.3% vs 7.5%, P = .0103). Operative time was longer for TORS than PA (77.9 ± 16.4 minutes vs 44.0 ± 12.9 minutes, P < .0001). Length of stay was similar between TORS and PA (3.9 ± 1.6 days vs 3.9 ± 2.5 days, P = .9047). Conclusion Tongue base reduction with TORS or PA each effectively treats OSA and provides comparable results. The choice between techniques might depend on patient factors, availability of technology, and associated costs.

Trans-oral robotic surgery versus coblation tongue base reduction for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Objectives To compare the efficacy of trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) with that of coblation assisted tongue base reduction surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Subjects and Methods The medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for all OSAS patients admitted to one institution for surgical intervention between 2012 and 2017. We analyzed 33 cases; 16 patients received TORS and 17 received coblation surgery for tongue base reduction. Both groups received concomitant uvulopalatoplasty. Surgical outcomes were evaluated by comparing the initial polysomnography (PSG) parameters with the follow-up PSG data (at least 3 months after the surgery). Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and complications were also compared between the 2 groups. Results The success rate (≥50% reduction of pre-operative AHI and post-operative AHI <20) in the TORS group and coblation group were 50% and 58%, respectively, and there was no significant difference (p = .611). The AHI (mean ± SD) reduction in the TORS and coblation groups were 24.9 ± 26.5 events/h and 19.4 ± 24.8 events/h, respectively; the between-group difference was not significant (p = .631). ESS improvement did not differ significantly between the TORS and coblation groups (3.8 ± 6.6 and 3.1 ± 9.2, respectively, p = .873). The rates of minor complication were higher in the TORS group (50%) than that of the coblation group (35.3%) without statistical significance (p = .393). Conclusion TORS achieved comparable surgical outcomes compared to coblation assisted tongue base reduction surgery in OSAS patients. Multilevel surgery using either TORS or coblation tongue base reduction combined with uvulopalatoplasty is an effective approach for the management of OSAS.

Outcomes of Tongue Base Reduction and Lingual Tonsillectomy for Residual Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea after Adenotonsillectomy

Introduction Upper airway obstruction at multiple sites, including the velum, the oropharynx, the tongue base, the lingual tonsils, or the supraglottis, has been resulting in residual obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (TA). The role of combined lingual tonsillectomy and tongue base volume reduction for treatment of OSA has not been studied in nonsyndromic children with residual OSA after TA. Objective To evaluate the outcomes of tongue base volume reduction and lingual tonsillectomy in children with residual OSA after TA. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain information on history and physical examination, past medical history, findings of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), of polysomnography (PSG), and surgical management. Pre- and postoperative PSGs were evaluated to assess the resolution of OSA and to determine the improvement in the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) before and after the surgery. Results A total of 10 children (5 male, 5 female, age range: 10–17 years old, mean age: 14.5 ± 2.6 years old) underwent tongue base reduction and lingual tonsillectomy. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) revealed airway obstruction due to posterior displacement of the tongue and to the hypertrophy of the lingual tonsils. All of the patients reported subjective improvement in the OSA symptoms. All of the patients had improvement in the oAHI. The postoperative oAHI was lower than the preoperative oAHI (p < 0.002). The postoperative apnea-hypopnea index during rapid eye movement sleep (REM-AHI) was lower than the preoperative REM-AHI (p = 0.004). Obstructive sleep apnea was resolved in children with normal weight. Overweight and obese children had residual OSA. Nonsyndromic children had resolution of OSA or mild OSA after the surgery. Conclusions Tongue base reduction and lingual tonsillectomy resulted in subjective and objective improvement of OSA in children with airway obstruction due to posterior displacement of the tongue and to hypertrophy of the lingual tonsils.