Radiofrequency surgery of the soft palate in the treatment of snoring. A placebo-controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Recent publications have demonstrated a reduction in snoring with radiofrequency (RF) surgery of the soft palate. Yet so far, all published data has been based on non-controlled trials. DESIGN Aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of RF surgery of the soft palate in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING Outpatients department at university hospital, department of otorhinolaryngology. PATIENTS 26 patients with primary snoring (AHI < 15, BMI < 35). INTERVENTIONS Patients were treated with temperature-controlled RF surgery of the soft palate under local anesthesia. In accord with a randomization protocol they received 2 sessions of RF surgery (total amount of energy: 3.300 Joule) or placebo (insertion of device needle without energy delivery). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Snoring was evaluated by the bed partner with 10 cm visual analogue scales. 23 patients completed the study; 12 received RF-surgery and 11 received placebo. Snoring scores did not change in the placebo group (8.4 +/- 1.6 to 8.0 +/- 2.3) while improving in the RF-group (8.1 +/- 1.3 to 5.2 +/- 2.4). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION RF-surgery was significantly better than placebo, although the reduction in snoring was only moderate in our group of patients. This study underlines the necessity for well-controlled clinical trials in the treatment of snoring.