Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Radiofrequency has recently been used in treating tonsilar hypertrophy in adults. We evaluated the results of partial resection (volume reduction) of tonsil using this method.
Methods: Twenty patients with tonsilar hypertrophy were enrolled in a quasi-experimental before-after clinical trial. Local anesthesia was achieved by utilizing lidocain spray and then injection of lidocain and epinephrine, then radiofrequency was performed at power=7-8w. Bleeding, pain and need for analgesics were assessed during, immediately, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation.
Results: The mean pain scale was 2.68±2.11 according to (VAS) and the mean bleeding amount was 1.16±0.24ml during operation. The mean operation time was 7.81±2.56min. Ten percent of our patients did not have pain immediately after surgery while 55% complained of pains that did not warrant using analgesics and the remaining 35% experienced pains that were alleviated by analgesics. During and immediately after operation 95% of the patients experienced mild bleeding and only one patient (5%) had moderate bleeding (2-5ml). Mild bleeding was only reported in 10% of patients during the first 4 weeks after operation and was not seen in patients in following weeks. The grade of tonsilar hypertrophy decreased in all patients and the mean time of symptom disappearance was 7.81±0.36 in 8 weeks. Finally the mean satisfaction rate of the patients was 66.92±12.5% (ranging from 50% to 80%). Mild complications were reported in 15% of patients.
Conclusion: Radiofrequency is a safe procedure with minimum possible complication rate for tonsilotomy.

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Background: Resulting from the rough flow of air through the nose and throat during sleep, snoring can arise from transitory obstruction at various levels, rendering the sufferer feeling sleep deprived. A relatively new method using radiofrequency technology, called palatoplasty (somnoplasty), can be used to reduce the size of obstructive tissues in the nose and throat. In this study, we assess radiofrequency palatoplasty in the treatment of snoring.

Methods: This nonrandomized prospective quasi-experimental study included 28 patients who snored at a level considered bothersome to their bed partner. Snoring and drowsiness were each subjectively scored using 20-point visual analogue scales before and after treatment. Radiofrequency energy was delivered to the soft palate either at the midline or in the lateral soft palate 21 patients were treated once and seven patients twice with an interval of at least seven weeks.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 47 (SD=10.7) years, with a range of 25-65 years, 57% were men, and the mean body mass index was 29 (SD=4.5). Sleep apnea in these patients was subjectively rated mild to moderate. After seven weeks of treatment, snoring was improved in 71.4% of patients (p<0.005). The tongue versus pharyngeal size was improved in 34.4% (p<0.005). The mean patient snoring score was significantly improved from 17.39 (SD=3.02) to 11.50 (SD=6.46) (p<0.005). The mean drowsiness score was also significantly reduced from 6.8 (SD=6.9) to 3.93 (SD=4.19) (p<0.005). No persistent negative impact was observed in speech or swallowing. Pain and bleeding was limited.

Conclusions: Radiofrequency palatoplasty is effective in the treatment of snoring and its consequent drowsiness.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Distinguishing the origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) by electrocardiogram (ECG) which is performed in all patients, helps to diagnose the cause of VT before trying invasive procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the ECG findings in patients with VT originating from Right or Left Ventricular Outflow Tracts (RVOT or LVOT).
Methods : Fifty nine patients with VT originating from LVOT or RVOT were selected for this cross-sectional study. The patients were recruited while they were attending Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2009-2010 for catheter ablation. The participants were evaluated for the prevalence of LVOT and RVOT and were compared for the success rate of radiofrequency catheter ablation.
Results : Out of 59 patients, 44.1% were male and 55.9% were female. The mean age of the participants was 41.67 (SD=13.76) years. QRS transition and notch in ECGs were significantly different (respectively, P=0.027 and P=0.007) between patients with LVOT and RVOT. R-to-QRS duration in precordial leads was significantly longer in patients with LVOT than those with RVOT [0.81 (SD=0.06) ms vs. 0.69 (SD=0.16), P=0.015]. Successful ablation was performed in 73.2% of patients with RVOT versus 93.3% of those with LVOT, but despite a higher rate the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.215).
Conclusion: In this study, RF catheter ablation was successful like other studies on patients with ventricular tachycardia and RVOT VT and LVOT VT had significant differences in notch, QRS transition and R-to-QRS duration in precordial leads which are important in differentiating between the two conditions.

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Background: Osteoid osteoma is a painful benign osteoblastic lesion occurring mainly in the long bones. On the one hand, some studies have declared that post-treatment CT cannot determine the success or failure of radiofrequency ablation, on the other hand, some studies have stated that imaging follow-up can be helpful or even mandatory in some cases. The present study aims to evaluate Osteoid Osteoma's imaging features before or after radiofrequency ablation with or without curettage and during the follow-up period.
Methods: In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, we reviewed twenty seven Osteoid Osteoma patients with radiofrequency ablation who were assessed via drilling with or without curettage from March 2015 to December 2019 at Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.