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For sleep apnea sufferers, tongue base collapse is a common reason for obstruction, in addition to the soft palate. Studies have shown that by addressing all the different levels of obstruction (in addition to the soft palate), surgical success rates can be as high as 80%. In contrast, only treating one area (the soft palate with the UPPP procedure) has a 40% success rate. Somnoplasty is the brand name of a device that uses radiofrequency energy to scar and shrink soft tissues in the upper airway area including the nose, the soft palate and the tongue. There are other various manufacturers of similar equipment that's used for similar purposes. This procedure involves using a thin needle probe which is placed in the central back part of the tongue and electrofrequency energy is applied, essentially causing a slight, controlled burn of the deep muscle layer. A certain preset amount of total energy is applied to multiple areas. With time, as the tissues heal and tighten, patients begin to sleep better. Most people need anywhere from 3-5 total treatments for maximum results. The first treatment is typically performed along with a palatal procedure (the UPPP) in the operating room. Follow-up treatments are done in the office about 4-6 weeks apart. It can take many months before you begin to see any results. Success rates vary with percentages ranging from the 60s to the 70s. It's difficult to compare all the results since everyone uses a different protocol and patients underwent different combination of procedures. Follow-up studies using MRIs showed that on average, there was about a 10-15% volume shrinkage of the tongue. One thing that many of the surgeons report is that patients are reluctant to undergo the full 4-5 treatments for optimal results. I've had a similar experience with my patients too when I first began to perform this procedure. The Somnoplasty procedure of one of many options for treating tongue base obstruction for sleep apnea. To see if you're a candidate, find an ENT surgeon that's comfortable performing various other tongue base and palatal procedures, in addition to the Somnoplasty procedure, so that the appropriate surgical procedure can be recommended for your unique, individual situation.
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