Premium
Treatment of Simple Snoring Using Radio Waves for Ablation of Uvula and Soft Palate: A Day‐Case Surgery Procedure
Author(s) -
Wedman Jan,
Miljeteig Harald
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200207000-00021
Subject(s) - medicine , visual analogue scale , soft palate , ablation , surgery , prospective cohort study , anesthesia
Objective Uvulopalatoplasty, performed with high‐frequency radio waves, was evaluated as a treatment for social snoring. Methods Forty male social snorers were included in this prospective, nonrandomized study. Patients' subjective complaints before, during, and 3 months after radio‐assisted uvulopalatoplasty were recorded on a visual analogue scale. Results Complications were negligible. Snoring sounds and daytime tiredness reduced significantly. Considering effect and suffering during and after surgery, a high number of patients (93%) were willing to undergo the procedure again if necessary. Conclusions The results of radio‐assisted uvulopalatoplasty (RAUP) seem to be similar to other surgical methods used to reduce snoring. The relative small investments needed and its simplicity makes RAUP a good alternative to known treatment strategies.