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CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
Intracapsular tonsillectomy in adults with obstructive sleep apnoea and large tonsils
Henrik M Sjöblom1,2,3, Jenny Knubb4,5, Miika Suomela6,5
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery and Cancer Diseases, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. hmsjob@utu.fi.
Summary
Intracapsular tonsillectomy (ICTE) removing 90% of tonsil tissue may be effective for adults with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Most patients found 10 days of sick leave sufficient after this less invasive procedure.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Sleep Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults with tonsillar hypertrophy is often treated with conventional extracapsular tonsillectomy.
- A less invasive approach, intracapsular tonsillectomy (ICTE), warrants investigation for its efficacy and recovery profile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of ICTE, involving 90% tonsil removal, as a treatment for adult OSA.
- To determine if 10 days of sick leave is adequate for recovery after ICTE.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study included 20 adults (aged 16-65) with moderate to severe OSA and tonsillar hypertrophy undergoing coblation ICTE.
- Surgical success was defined by >50% decrease in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) to <20; cure by AHI <5.
- Patient-reported outcomes included pain, insomnia, sleepiness, and benefit using validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Sixteen patients completed follow-up. Surgical success and cure rates were 68.8% and 43.8%, respectively.
- Mean AHI significantly decreased from 37.4 to 11.8 events/hour (p=.003).
- 81.3% of patients considered 10 days of sick leave sufficient for recovery.
Conclusions:
- Removing 90% of tonsil tissue via ICTE may be an effective treatment option for adults with large tonsils and OSA.
- Ten days appears to be a sufficient recovery period for many adult patients after intracapsular tonsillectomy.
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