Coblator Assisted-Barbed Relocation Pharyngoplasty (Co-BRP) in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgical Treatment

Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) is a new technique to manage velo-pharyngeal obstruction and collapse in OSA patients. Tonsillectomy is a preliminary step of BRP surgery. Dissection of the PPM with monopolar or hot instruments is an essential step of the BRP technique. Tonsillectomy and muscle manipulation should be managed with careful attention due to the risk of muscle fibers rupture and surgical failure. We describe the coblator assisted BRP. The aim of this paper is to report the use and advantages of coblator technology in tonsillectomy and the velo-pharyngeal dissection before the PPM relocation with barbed sutures. In this operative technique study 100 OSA patients underwent Co-barbed technique. The CO-BRP technique has been considered fast, safe and minimally invasive with a low postoperative pain (mean value 3.63 ± 0.7). Postoperatively, a significant decrease in mean AHI from 35.63 ± 10.57 to 17.06 ± 5.92 (P < .005) emerged.