Base of tongue surgery for obstructive sleep apnea treatment in a multilevel setting: trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) vs endoscopic coblation surgery

To compare transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with coblation resection for base of tongue surgery in a multilevel setting of OSA surgical treatment. Thirty patients who underwent base of tongue resection with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and thirty patients who underwent coblation resection of the base of the tongue were enrolled in the study. Both groups were compared based on intraoperative findings, respiratory outcomes (apnea/hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and lowest SpO₂), functional outcomes, and complications. According to the surgeons' experience, tongue base exposure and visualization were better with TORS. There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.4) in the success rate between TORS (70%) and coblation resection (63%). TORS and coblation are both effective techniques for base of tongue treatment in OSA patients. The surgical success rate, number of postoperative complications, and anatomical results were similar between the two techniques.