Abstract
Objective: Study the impact of Pillar implantation plus radiofrequency tongue base reduction (RFBOT) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome on middle ear function.
Method: The patients who underwent a Pillar implantation combined with RFBOT for OSA were enrolled. All subjects had normal eardrums. Pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry were performed preoperatively, and at 1 day, 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Baseline and postoperative middle ear pressures (MEPs) in decipascals were compared.
Results: Twenty patients (17 men, 3 women; mean age 45.7 years) were reviewed. Six patients (6/20, 30.0%) reported otologic complaints such as ear pressure and/or otalgia within one week postoperatively. No permanent otologic discomfort occurred. A trend toward reduced MEP was noted in this study. The decrease in MEP became apparent on day 1 and 7. However, mean pressure changes were no longer significantly different from preoperative values by one week after surgery.
Conclusion: The minimally invasive surgery with Pillar implantation plus RFBOT for OSA induces changes in middle ear function. However, the changes were temporary and not significant after 3 months follow-up.
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