Assessment of Post-Operative Outcomes of Radiofrequency Surgery in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to fragmented sleep and adverse health outcomes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) surgery in improving OSA symptoms and related parameters.

Objective: To assess the post-operative outcomes of RF surgery in patients with OSA, focusing on polysomnography (PSG) metrics such as the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation, snoring severity, and overall sleep quality. Additionally, this study investigates the variability in individual responses and the role of adjunctive therapies in optimizing treatment outcomes.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 42 patients aged 18-50 years at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. Preoperative assessments included overnight PSG and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). Postoperative outcomes were measured using PSG, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Berlin Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with ANOVA and chi-square tests applied for continuous and categorical variables, respectively.

Results: The mean age of participants was 31.3 years (SD 9.8), and the mean BMI was 30.1 (SD 6.4). The mean duration of surgery was 72.9 minutes (SD 24.5). Post-surgery, the AHI significantly decreased from 16.06 to 8.71 (p < 0.05), and snoring severity improved in 57.1% of patients. Despite objective improvements, there was no significant change in daytime sleepiness or nodding-off rates. 42% of patients required additional therapy post-surgery. Complications were minimal (10%), and patient satisfaction scores had a median of 5.5.

Conclusion: RF surgery is effective in reducing AHI and snoring severity in OSA patients, particularly among younger adults. The procedure is generally safe and well-tolerated, though a substantial proportion of patients may need adjunctive therapies for optimal outcomes. Future research should focus on refining patient selection criteria and exploring combination therapies to enhance the effectiveness of RF surgery in diverse patient populations.