Submucosal lingualplasty for adult obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To measure quality-of-life outcomes, polysomnographic outcomes, and adverse effects for a new technique of tongue reduction in obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series.

SETTING: Tertiary hospital.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Consecutively treated adult patients (N = 27) with obstructive sleep apnea having submucosal lingualplasty in 2007 were studied. All had concurrent or previous uvulopalatoplasty ± palatal advancement. Full polysomnography preoperatively and 3.7 ± 0.4 months postoperatively, scored using the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2007 criteria, was recorded. Snoring severity score, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and complication data were collected at a 2.61 ± 0.08-year follow-up via questionnaire.

RESULTS: Mean snoring severity score fell from 7.1 ± 0.4 to 2.3 ± 0.6 (P < .05). Epworth Sleepiness Scale score fell from 8.3 ± 1.1 to 5.8 ± 1.0 (P < .05). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) fell from 44.0 ± 4.3 to 12.5 ± 2.3 (P < .05). Success, defined as achieving an AHI <15 postoperatively, was observed in 74% (20/27), with each of these patients achieving a reduction in AHI >50%. Lowest oxygen saturation improved from 84 ± 1 to 88 ± 1 (P < .05). Pain was mild to moderate. Short-term postoperative complications included bleeding (3.7%) and infection (14.8%). Some minor long-term (6 months) alteration in tongue function was reported with regard to speech (47%), swallow (33%), and taste (33%).

CONCLUSION: Submucosal lingualplasty with concurrent palatal surgery is a promising treatment option in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea with macroglossia.