Radiofrequency Ablation for Snoring and Sleep Apnoea

Radiofrequency is high frequency alternating current used to ablate (cut/coagulate) tissues. It can be applied to nasal turbinates, soft palate, tongue base, tonsils etc. and it can be used to perform various procedures in the cutting mode to improve obstructive sleep disordered breathing.

Radiofrequency proves to be a useful tool for snoring/ sleep apnoea cases. Its advantage includes relative precision in incision making, relative bloodless fields if used appropriately, decrease postoperative pain and excellent healing with fibrosis which aids in stiffening tissues.

Keywords: Radiofrequency, snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea.