Icon Legend

This session is not in your schedule.

This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

Presentation Icons

Audio Recorded Session

Poster Icons

Best in Basic/Clinic Science

Best in Show

Honorable Mention in Business of Medicine

Honorable Mention in Comprehensive Otolaryngology

Honorable Mention in Endocrine Surgery

Honorable Mention in Care Equity, Quality and Safety

Honorable Mention in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Honorable Mention in Global Perspectives in Otolaryngology

Honorable Mention in Head and Neck Surgery

Honorable Mention in Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology

Honorable Mention in Otology/Neurotology

Honorable Mention in Pediatric Otolaryngology

Honorable Mention in Professional and Personal Development

Honorable Mention in Rhinology/Allergy

Honorable Mention in Sleep Medicine

Favorite

Late-Breaking Scientific Oral Presentation

Sleep Medicine

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation vs Ventral Only Ablation of the Tongue for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sunday, October 18, 2026

8:30 AM - 8:36 AM PT

Location: West Exhibit Hall A, Learning Zone 7

Co-Author(s)

Quentin C. Durfee, n/a

Medical Student
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
David Joseph Dillard

Medical Student
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Auburn, GA, United States
SZ

Shouhao Zhou, PhD

Associate Professor
Penn State College of Medicine, United States
David Y. Goldrich, MD

Chief Resident Physician, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, PA, United States
FL

F. Jeffrey F. Lorenz, MD

Resident Physician, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Penn State University
Hershey, PA, United States

Senior Author(s)

NG

Neerav Goyal, MD, FACS

Professor, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Presenting Author(s)

ZO

Ziad H. Obideen, n/a

Medical Student
Penn State College of Medicine
Hummelstown, PA, United States

Disclosure(s):

David Joseph Dillard:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Ziad H. Obideen, n/a:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: While hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) remains an effective treatment for CPAP intolerant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), no study has compared it to Ventral Only Ablation of the Tongue (VOAT). This study compares sleep outcomes between both therapies in adults with OSA.

Methods: A multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study conducted at academic and outpatient settings spanning December 2012 to December 2025 of adult OSA patients (>18 years) who underwent either HNS or VOAT. Paired pre/post in-lab or home sleep studies (HSTs) were reviewed; Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) included all patients with paired pre/post scores regardless of sleep studies, resulting in a larger ESS cohort. The primary outcome was apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) change; secondary outcomes were Sher20, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), minutes of SpO₂ < 90%, and ESS changes. Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and chi-square tests were used as necessary. Analyses for each parameter included only patients with paired pre/post values.

Results: Of 282 patients (n=121 HNS, 161 VOAT), baseline BMI was lower in the HNS group (29.5 vs 32.6 kg/m²; P < 0.0001). Between HNS (n = 44) and VOAT (n = 137), baseline AHI was similar (35.8 vs 29.9 events/hr; P = 0.054). HNS and VOAT each reduced AHI by −20.4 events/hr and −8.8 events/hr, respectively (both P < 0.0001). HNS demonstrated higher Sher20 rates (56.8% vs 39.4%; P = 0.0393). VOAT significantly reduced SpO₂ < 90% (n=58, -18.1 minutes; P = 0.03) while HNS did not (P = 0.92). ODI significantly decreased in the HNS cohort (n=35, −9.8 events/hr; P < 0.01), while it did not in the VOAT cohort (P = 0.06). Each cohort saw significant decreases in ESS (HNS n = 118, −3.0; VOAT n = 524, −4.2; both P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Both therapies were associated with meaningful objective and subjective improvements. Although HNS indicated greater AHI reduction, VOAT demonstrated significantly larger ESS improvement while also showing significant within-group oxygenation improvements. These findings support both HNS and VOAT as effective treatment options for OSA, with patient-specific factors guiding therapy choice.