Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41801520›Full record

SynthesisSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2026

Robotic versus non-robotic posterior midline glossectomy for obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alhanouf A Alhedaithy, Fatima A Alghamdi, Saad AlOtaibi, Wasan M Alharbi, Mohammed S Alkhaldi, Nasser K Almutairi, Ahmed Alammar

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alhanouf A AlhedaithyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. hanoufhed@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-5475-7496
Fatima A AlghamdiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saad AlOtaibiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Wasan M AlharbiOtolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery Department, Eastern Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed S AlkhaldiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Nasser K AlmutairiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed AlammarDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse, leading to intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. Posterior midline glossectomy is a widely used technique to treat tongue base obstruction typically performed as part of multilevel management. This systematic review compares the efficacy and safety of robotic versus non-robotic glossectomy techniques in OSA management.

methodsFour databases were searched through July 2024. Eligible studies included adult patients with OSA undergoing robotic or non-robotic posterior midline glossectomy, with outcomes including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), oxygen saturation, complications, and surgical success. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan v5.4.

resultsThirty-six studies (n = 6,995 patients) were included. Both robotic and non-robotic approaches resulted in significant AHI reduction (robotic: − 25.93; non-robotic: − 24.99). Oxygen nadir improved in both groups (robotic: +5.48%; non-robotic: +8.11). ESS scores decreased in both arms (robotic: − 7.43; non-robotic: − 5.58). Overall success rates were similar (robotic: 64%; non-robotic: 57%). Major complications, particularly postoperative bleeding and edema, were more frequent with robotic surgery.

conclusionRobotic and non-robotic posterior glossectomy yield comparable improvements in OSA outcomes. Robotic techniques may offer slighlty greater symptom reduction but are associated with higher complication rates. These findings support individualized surgical planning based on anatomy, risk profile, and resource availability.

Indexed as

GlossectomyRobotic Surgical ProceduresSleep Apnea, ObstructiveHumansGlossectomyMeta-analysisObstructive sleep apneaRobotic surgeryTransoral surgery

Identifiers

PMID41801520
PMCPMC12971768

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.