PARTIAL RESECTION OF THE TONGUE FOR THE AMELIORATION OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA - A REPORT ON 34 CASES WITH LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

This is a report on 34 consecutive patients who had partial resection of the tongue (PROT) for severe snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea ( OSA). Short-term (7-24 months) follow-up of 30 patients and long-term (7-11 years) follow-up of 20 patients revealed 88% short-term and 65% long-term improvement in symptoms. Weight loss (4.5 to 24.5 kg) occurr ed in 10 patients, 5 of whom were improved by the procedure. The oroph aryngeal and nasopharyngeal spaces are widened by removal of a wedge o f tissue from the body of the tongue. PROT appears to be a simple but effective means of relieving OSA symptoms. There were no long-term com plications. This procedure seems likely to reduce the morbidity and mo rtality of OSA, especially when associated with serious cardio-vascula r or pulmonary pathology.