Comparison of radiofrequency and transoral robotic surgery in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency tissue ablation (RFTA) and transoral robotic surgery (TORS) are the methods used in OSAS surgery. We also aimed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of RF and TORS as treatment methods applied in OSAS patients in terms of many parameters, especially apnea hypopnea index (AHI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were classified by performing a detailed examination and evaluation before surgery. 20 patients treated with anterior palatoplasty and uvulectomy -/+ tonsillectomy + RFTA (17 males, 3 females) and 20 patients treated with anterior palatoplasty and uvulectomy -/+  tonsillectomy + TORS (16 males, 4 females) were included in the study. PSG was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in all patients and Epworth sleepiness questionnaire was applied. All operations were performed by the same surgeon and these surgical methods -RF and TORS- were compared in terms of many parameters.

RESULTS: When the patients treated with RF and TORS were compared in operation time, length of hospitalization and duration of transition to oral feeding; all parameters were significantly greater in the patients treated with TORS.

CONCLUSIONS: TORS technique was found to be more successful than RF in terms of reduction of AHI value, correcting minimum arterial oxygen saturation value and decreasing Epworth Sleepiness Scale score.