Lingual tonsillectomy and midline posterior glossectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Lingual tonsillectomy and midline posterior glossectomy are useful in children with persistent obstructive sleep apnea following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy who do not tolerate positive airway pressure ventilation. These techniques involve removing tissue from the surface (lingual tonsil) or base (midline posterior glossectomy) of the tongue to decrease bulk in the oropharynx. The aim of this review is to delineate the preoperative evaluation and intraoperative considerations of lingual tonsillectomy and midline posterior glossectomy in children.