Fluoroscopic‐Assisted Tongue Suspension: Advancement and Innovation in the Management of Complex Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Valika Taher 
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The primary aim of this study is to describe a novel surgical technique developed for tongue base suspension (TBS). The second aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the developed procedure by quantifying preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing fluoroscopic‐assisted tongue suspension (FATS) with the Encore System. Our hypothesis is that our FATS technique will provide at least a 50% reduction in the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI), including in the medically complex pediatric population.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

An electronic medical record review was conducted of patients who underwent FATS by a single surgeon at a tertiary care medical center between December 2019 and June 2022. Inclusion criteria included all patients <18 years old with evidence of OSA or sleep‐disordered breathing and who had glossoptosis on sleep endoscopy. Data extracted from the medical record included age, gender, medical comorbidity history, reason for referral, history of airway surgeries, length of hospital stay, surgical complications data, and preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic data. Surgical success was defined by at least a 50% reduction in AHI.

Results

Thirty patients (53.3% male) with a mean age of 6.3 (±5.3, 0.16–17) years underwent FATS over the study period. Most patients (93%) had an underlying comorbidity: cerebral palsy (37%), chromosomal abnormalities (23%), Down syndrome (13%), Pierre‐Robin sequence (10%), and obesity (10%). The majority of patients (77%) were explicitly referred for tracheostomy placement secondary to failed management of OSA. 21 patients completed both preoperative and postoperative polysomnograms. The mean preoperative AHI, obstructive AHI (oAHI), and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) were 28.8 (±19.8), 30.8 (±19.6), and 30.5 (±19.3), respectively. The mean postoperative AHI, oAHI, and RDI were 7.3 (±9.2), 7.5 (±9.1), and 7.9 (±9.3), respectively. The mean change in AHI was −21.5 (±21.4) events/h (p < 0.01, 95% CI ‐29.0 to −11.4 events/h). The mean percentage decrease in AHI was 74.7%. The mean change in oAHI and RDI were −23.3 (±21.9) events/h (p < 0.01 95% CI‐ 39.9 to −21.4 events/h) and −22.5 (±21.5) events/h (p < 0.01, 95% CI‐ 31.5 to −12.4 events/h), respectively. The mean percentage decrease in oAHI and RDI was 75.6% and 73.8%, respectively. Surgical success occurred in 16 of the 21 (76%) patients. Of the 23 patients referred explicitly for tracheostomy placement, 21 (91%) were able to avoid tracheostomy placement secondary to improvements in OSA.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing fluoroscopic‐assisted TBS revealed statistically significant improvements in AHI, oAHI, and RDI, with an overall surgical success rate of 76%. Complication rates were minimal, despite the complex nature of the study population. FATS should be considered a viable surgical approach in pediatric patients with an identified base of tongue obstruction and OSA.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:S1–S9, 2024