Innovative technique for lingual tonsillectomy and midline posterior glossectomy for obstructive sleep apnea

Hypopharyngeal airway obstruction may result from abnormal or disproportionate tongue base anatomy or lingual tonsil hypertrophy. Partial glossectomy and lingual tonsillectomy may be difficult and excessively morbid procedures in the sleep apnea population. Techniques are described using plasma surgery tools, combined with endoscopy, that allow for improved visualization and more complete removal of lingual tonsils and low morbidity mucosal sparing excisional glossectomy.