Table 1.
Description of Included Studies of Medium and High Quality
| Source | Location | Study design | Sample size* | Operation | Outcomes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferguson et al., 200317 | Canada | RCT, parallel | 46 (45) | LAUP | ESS, AHI, SAQLI, Snoring, Side-effects | High |
| Woodson et al., 200318 | USA | RCT, parallel | 60 (52) | TCRAFTA | ESS, AHI, SF36, FOSQ, Side-effects | High |
| Larossa et al., 200419 | Spain | RCT, parallel | 28 (25) | LAUP | ESS, AHI, SF36, Snoring, Complications | High |
| Stuck et al., 200520 | Germany | RCT, parallel | 26 (23) | TCRAFTA | ESS, Snoring, Side- effects | High |
| Studies of adverse effects | ||||||
| Esclamado et al., 198923 | USA | Consecutive patients | 132 | UPPP | Perioperative complications | Medium |
| Harmon et al., 198924 | USA | Consecutive patients | 132 | UPPP | Peri- and postoperative complications | Medium |
| Walker et al., 199625 | USA | Consecutive patients | 275 | LAUP | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Riley et al., 199726 | USA | Prospective | 182 (182) | Different operations | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Mickelson et al., 199827 | USA | Consecutive patients | 347 | UPPP | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Terris et al., 199828 | USA | Consecutive patients | 109 (109) | UPPP | Peri- and postoperative complications | Medium |
| Hultcrantz et al., 199929 | Sweden | Consecutive patients | 55 | UPP | Long-term side-effects | Medium |
| Levring-Jäghagen et al., 199930 | Sweden | Consecutive patients | 76 (68) | UPP | Persistent dysphagia | Medium |
| Powell et al., 199931 | USA | Prospective | 20 (18) | TCRAFTA tongue | Postoperative complications, swallowing function | Medium |
| Remacle et al., 199932 | Belgium | Prospective | 89 | LAUP UPPP | Complications | Medium |
| Boudewyns et al., 200033 | Belgium | Prospective | 103 (44) | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Coleman et al., 200034 | USA | Prospective | 12 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Grontved et al., 200035 | Denmark | Consecutive patients | 69 | UPPP | Complications | Medium |
| Hagert et al., 200036 | Sweden | Consecutive patients | 457 (415) | UPPP LAUP | Long-term side-effects | Medium |
| Hukins et al., 200037 | Australia | Prospective | 20 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Li et al., 200038 | USA | Prospective | 22 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Long term side-effects | Medium |
| Osman et al., 200039 | UK | Prospective | 47 (47) | UPPP LAUP | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Bäck et al.. 200140 | Finland | Prospective | 21 (16) | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Brown et al., 200141 | Canada | Prospective | 12 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Pazos et al., 200142 | USA | Consecutive patients | 30 (30) | TCRAFTA soft palate, tongue | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Sher et al., 200143 | USA | Prospective | 112 (105) | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Terris et al., 200145 | USA | Prospective | 23 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Woodson et al., 200146 | USA | Prospective | 73 (69) | TCRAFTA tongue | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Haraldsson et al., 200247 | Sweden | Prospective | 16 | TCRAFTA soft palate | Speech evaluation | Medium |
| Lysdahl et al., 200248 | Sweden | Consecutive patients | 150 (121) | UPPP LAUP | Long-term side-effects | Medium |
| Stuck et al., 200244 | Germany | Prospective | 20 (18) | TCRAFTA soft palate, tongue | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Berger et al., 200349 | Israel | Prospective | 49 | UPPP LAUP | Early and long-term side-effects | Medium |
| Rombaux et al., 200350 | Belgium | Prospective | 49 | UPPP LAUP TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Said et al., 200351 | USA | Consecutive patients | 50 (39) | TCRAFTA soft palate | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Jäghagen et al., 200422 | Sweden | Prospective | 46 (42) | UPPP UPP | Swallowing function | High |
| Kezirian et al., 200421 | USA | Prospective | 3130 | UPPP | Postoperative serious side-effects | High |
| Kim et al., 200552 | South Korea | Consecutive patients | 90 | UPPP | Postoperative complications | Medium |
| Li et al.,54 | China | Consecutive patients | 108 | UPPP | Taste disturbances | Medium |
| Pavelec et al., 200653 | Czech Republic | Prospective | 63 | LAUP | Postoperative complications | Medium |
Abbreviations: RCT, randomized, controlled trial; ESS, Epworth sleepiness scale; SF36 Short Form 36; AHI, Apnea-hypopnea index; FOSQ, functional outcome of sleep questionnaire; SAQLI, Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index; LAUP, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty; UPP, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty; UPPP, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty; TCRAFTA, temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue ablation.
*
Numbers in parentheses denote the number of patients analyzed after withdrawals.