Which surgery is intended to shrink excess tissue in the throat to treat obstructive sleep apnea?

Somnoplasty is a surgical procedure specifically designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea by shrinking excess tissue in the throat. This technique involves using radiofrequency energy to ablate (or destroy) soft tissue in the airway, which can help reduce the obstruction that contributes to sleep apnea. By targeting tissues like the uvula and the soft palate, somnoplasty aims to minimize the obstruction without the need for more invasive procedures.

In contrast, adenotonsillectomy, while effective for children with sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, doesn't specifically shrink tissue but removes it entirely. Open heart surgery and nasal surgery are not relevant to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in terms of addressing tissue obstruction in the throat. Therefore, somnoplasty is the most appropriate choice for its focused approach to reducing excess tissue and alleviating symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.