microwave throat?

tansey · Post by **tansey** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:06 am

About 5 years ago, when I first went on cpap, I heard a doctor on a radio program that treated apnea by microwaving the throat. He said the scar tissue from the heat tighten up the throat and it was an out patient proceedure. Any of you ever heard of this, my doc hasn't

feeling_better · Post by **feeling_better** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:20 am

Yes, this is a fairly well established procedure, in the last 10 years or so. It is called Somnoplasty or Radio frequency treatment. This is done on an outpatient basis; under local anesthesia, the surgeon inserts a needle into the palate or the tongue and delivers microwave heat to shrink the affected tissues. For sleep apnea due to obstruction from enlarged base of the tongue, it may require between 3-4 separate treatments. Success rate is 50%. Complications are 5-8% and include throat pain, bleeding, infection, voice change, dryness of the mouth. Also the tissues may regrow after 3 years and may require repeat procedure.

The most successful, least risky method for obstructive apnea is xPAP therapy.

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:59 am

Oh thank goodness. I really had a fear of some people trying to put their heads and necks into a microwave oven. I am glad to know it is real. I had heard of somnoplasty, just didn't know it was microwaves.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:13 pm

it is RF or Radio Frequency energy similar to that of microwave but concentrated with a special wand device.

only problem with it is it hasn't been found very effective.

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:55 pm

Yeah, I had heard that it was at best a 40% to 50% success rate. And that is probably measured within months of treatment, not years.

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:34 pm

I tried to do this at home with an old Easy Bake oven, and I would NOT recommend it to anyone!!!

Just Kidding!!