Coblation Assisted Procedures

Published Date: 23rd February 2017

Publication Authors: Saleem Y

​

Objectives 

To assess the clinical effectiveness of coblation assisted upper airway procedures in patients with snoring and sleep apnea.

Methods 

This study was conducted at the ENT Department of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom. Fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent upper airway procedures were included in this study. The data collection for this was done between January 2012 and November 2015. A retrospective search was done, and clinical case notes of all patients were reviewed. We looked into demographic data, clinical indications, physical findings on examination, relevant investigations, complications, length of stay in the hospital, and patient satisfaction. A simple questionnaire was designed for completion by patients before and after the operation to the see the severity of snoring and the outcome of coblation assisted upper airway procedures. The investigation carried out was ambulatory ApneaGraph analysis.

Results 

ApneaGraph results showed two-thirds of patients with upper-level obstruction, whereas multilevel obstruction was seen in one-third of the patients. Coblation assisted uvulapalatopharyngoplasty was done in 100% with additional tonsillectomy in 46.4% and inferior turbinoplasty in 12.5%. Fifty-four percent of patients went home on the same day, whereas 46% stayed overnight. Outcome showed significant improvement of symptoms in 73.22% of patients with mainly upper level obstruction and variable improvement of symptoms in 26.78% of patients, mainly in multilevel obstruction.

Conclusions 

Results of surgery were better in patents who had mainly upper level obstruction on ApneaGraph analysis, so it is very important to detect the level of obstruction prior to surgery.

Qureshi, E; Saleem, Y. (2016). Outcome of Coblation Assisted Procedures in Snoring and Sleep Apnea . Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 155 (Suppl 1), P281.

« Back