Radiofrequency Tissue Reduction or “Somnoplasty” is a simple outpatient procedure to help people suffering from sleep apnea or other sleep-related problems. This procedure enlarges the space within the nose and throat area, allowing for easier breathing during sleep.
The procedure can be particularly helpful for patients suffering from a type of apnea known as obstructive apnea. Somnoplasty uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to provide a minimally invasive and less painful treatment of upper airway obstructions under local anesthesia.
You may also hear this procedure referred to as “radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction” (RFVTR) or “radiofrequency ablation.”
Obstructive apnea is the most common form of apnea, caused by blockage of the back of the nose and throat area while the patient is asleep. Apnea, from the Greek word meaning “without breath,” causes pauses in breathing during sleep, sometimes for over 20 seconds or longer several hundred times per night. The National Institutes of Health estimate that over 12 million Americans, young and old, suffer from apnea. Obstructive apnea occurs more commonly in older adults, and is seen more often in men than in women.
Symptoms of the obstructive apnea include:
- Snoring
- Gasping for air
- Restless sleep
- Sleeping in unusual positions
Procedures like “Somnoplasty” or radiofrequency tissue reduction, a type of minimally invasive therapy, may be recommended only after conservative treatment options have been tried. Or it may be recommended in addition to the treatment. These recommendations may include:
- Weight-loss regimen, if appropriate
- Smoking cessation
- Practicing good sleep hygiene
- Night-time dental appliance that may be fitted by a dentist
Your doctor may also recommend a sleep study to better understand the nature of the apnea before beginning any type of therapy.
Some patients may also be directed to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. However, patients who undergo somnoplasty often do so as an alternative to CPAP therapy.