RADIOFREQUENCY ablation, a procedure that uses heat to shrink the tissue of the soft palate, is an effective and minimally invasive procedure that can be used to treat patients who snore.

Due to its minimally invasive character, significant improvement of primary snoring (snoring without sleep apnoea), and low postoperative complication rates, radiofrequency surgery of the soft palate in general has become widespread. Nevertheless, the long- term clinical efficacy of radiofrequency surgery of the soft palate in primary snoring was limited.

Compared with the preoperative snoring score, the severity of snoring was reduced after two treatment sessions of combined radiofrequency.

Primary snoring may be an early predictor of obstructive sleep apnoea. In contrast to obstructive sleep apnoea, no generally accepted gold standard is available for the treatment of primary snoring.

The researchers noted that prior to their study, long-term research results surrounding radiofrequency surgery of primary snoring were limited.

Results of the current study may be able to guide physicians and patients in choosing effective treatment options for snoring. — EurekAlert.