|
Following the initial
success of radiofrequency to treat snoring by application of heat to reduce
the tissue volume, creating submucosal scar and hence diminishing palatal
vibration another innovative technique was introduced using polyester suture
type material to achieve similar results. Pillar Implant (Restore Medical,
Incorporated St. Paul, MN) received FDA clearance for snoring and
obstructive sleep apnea in 2004. |
|
There is no need for repeated procedures,
extensive operating room equipments, expensive laser
systems of RF generators. There is no heating, burning
or removing of tissues so it minimizes swelling and
post-procedure discomfort. In case of any problems, it
can easily be retrieved providing patients and their
doctors flexibility for other treatment options in the
future. Most patients can resume normal activities and
diet shortly after this minimally invasive procedure.
Procedures are generally performed in one visit in an
outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The
effectiveness of each procedure depends on patient
selection, the surgeons experience not only with this
system but with other surgical procedures such as
palatal Radioablation. It also relies on patient as well
as the bed-partners expectation. Just like any other
surgical procedure, the long term results have not been
very stable in our limited experience. (unlike laser
surgery or Radioablation procedures, and because of high
failure ratio of palatal Radioablation we have been very
conservative in utilizing this device, and have
consulted with many other professionals regarding their
experience using this device as well. A complete report
could be found in the Atlas of Oral & Maxillofacial
Surgery Clinic of North America.
We will evaluate interested patients then based on the
anatomy of their airway may recommend this procedure.
Our recommendations have been very similar to other
palatal stiffening procedures such as Radioablation.
Pillar Implants in selected cases with short uvula,
hyperplastic soft palate and BMI of less than 25 with
minimal indication of obstructive sleep apnea has been
an effective method of treatment in reducing the snoring
sound intensity. It is imperative that surgical cases
are selected meticulously for this procedure since the
long term results, in 45% of cases, in the authors
experience had relapse of their snoring problem and the
effectiveness of this procedure for correcting the more
serious cases of obstructive sleep apnea is highly
questionable.
|