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Other reasons for CPAP machine failures.
#1
Other reasons for CPAP machine failures.
I have had two tongue-based RFA procedures so far this year as of April 2025. I was offered the Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) and the Aspire procedure but reasoned with my doctor about a tongue base reduction. My drug-induced sleep endoscopy revealed that my tongue fell back to the back of my throat to the point where it blocks my epiglottis and that is probably the primary reason why I wasn’t feeling any benefit from the CPAP machine. Instead of choosing a more invasive procedure, I talked with my doctor and told him I was interested in trying to reduce the tongue base via RFA in hopes of maximizing enough space for a tongue-retaining device or CPAP machine to be effective. I’ve read that tongue-based procedures don’t always work, but it has the possibility of allowing a CPAP machine or tongue-retaining device to be more effective at the very least. Before my first RFA tongue base procedure, my ODI of 3%" (Oxygen Desaturation Index) was about 39. After my second RFA tongue base procedure, it was as low as 11.5 (with a tongue-retaining device).


The first two were a piece of cake with mild to moderate pain for a little more than a week. My follow-up to my second RFA tongue procedure indicated a significant reduction of the tongue base, although I may need one more to finalize the reduction of the tongue base. Additionally, the doctor may find it beneficial to reduce my lingual tonsils, although he said they are not really that prominent. Furthermore, the drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) revealed a portion of my epiglottis collapsed (even with jaw and tongue pulled forward.) So my doctor already discussed adjusting the problem area of my epiglottis with a technique he has discovered has a high percentage success rate (this could possibly be a contributing factor as to why the CPAP has had very little success.) One good thing I heard about RFA as opposed to cautery, laser, cutting, etc. in regards to reducing the tongue base is that it can create better beneficial scar tissue in the tongue base that can decrease the overall “floppiness” which in turn could help against the tendency of the base of the tongue to fall backward while sleeping. In the meantime, I’m awaiting a sleep study to be completed before another (and hopefully my last RFA tongue reduction procedure with an adjustment of the epiglottis collapse.)
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