Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24839238›Full record

ArticleSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2015

Efficacy of radiofrequency treatment of the soft palate for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: treatment protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate.

Tomas Balsevičius, Virgilijus Uloza, Raimundas Sakalauskas, Skaidrius Miliauskas, Indre Jarutienė

Abstract readClinical Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 86% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2024).World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2026
    Article
  2. International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.International forum of allergy & rhinology · 2023
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Tomas BalsevičiusDepartment of Otolaryngology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, Kaunas, 50009, Lithuania, balseviciai@gmail.com.
Virgilijus Uloza
Raimundas Sakalauskas
Skaidrius Miliauskas
Indre Jarutienė
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences · LT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe study aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety of a radiofrequency treatment (RFT) protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate in the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

methodsTwenty-eight mild to moderate OSAHS patients underwent two sessions of RFT (CelonLab ENT system) at the palatal level within the interval from 6 to 8 weeks. Nine lesions (power setting of 10 W) were made per session. The baseline and posttreatment polysomnography and clinical tests battery consisting of visual analogue scales (VAS), Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), Beck Depression Inventory--second edition (BDI-II), and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were applied to assess the RFT outcomes.

resultsMild to moderate OSAHS patients demonstrated statistically significantly reduced posttreatment mean VAS values for most of the OSAHS-related complaints. A significant improvement in sleepiness (ESS score 6.7 ± 3.7 vs 8.5 ± 4.1, p < 0.01), depressivity (BDI-II score 7.5 ± 6.5 vs 13.1 ± 11.7, p < 0.01), and health-related quality of life (SAQLI score 5.3 ± 0.8 vs 4.7 ± 0.9, p < 0.01) was observed after the RFT. The mean AHI decreased from 13.7 ± 5.9 to 8.3 ± 4.9 points (p < 0.01) in the entire group of patients. According to Sher's criteria of success, 17 out of 28 (60.7 %) patients improved after RFT. No major complications were noted with RFT.

conclusionsRFT protocol with nine lesions to the soft palate seems to be an effective and safe treatment modality associated with low morbidity in selected mild to moderate OSAHS patients.

Indexed as

AdultCatheter AblationFemaleHumansLithuaniaMaleMiddle AgedPalate, SoftPolysomnographyProspective StudiesSleep Apnea, ObstructiveSurveys and QuestionnairesTreatment OutcomeYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID24839238
OpenAlexW2085287222

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.