RESUMO
In a preliminary prospective randomised study, a series of 5 patients submitted to classic Tongue Base Reduction with Hyo-Epiglottoplasty (TBRHE according to Chabolle et al., 1998) is compared to a series of 7 patients submitted to a modified version of Chabolle's procedure. The changes introduced in the new surgical technique can be summarised as follows: a) lower neck skin incision; b) different neurovascular bundle identification; c) submucosal tongue base muscle resection; d) variation of the caudal hyoid stabilisation, already described by the Authors in 2008 (Tongue Base Reduction with Thyro-Hyoido-Pexy). The objective has been primarily to compare the feasibility, functional effectiveness and overall tolerability of the modified procedure. In this preliminary study Tongue Base Reduction with Thyro-Hyoido-Pexy has proven to be an easy and rapid procedure, with shorter post-operative functional recovery and comparable polysomnographic and neuro-psychological short time results.