Punctate diathermy of the soft palate: a new approach in the surgical management of snoring.
We present our experiences in the surgical management of 21 snorers, utilizing a new approach designed to stiffen the palatal musculature, without compromising its function. This was achieved by using a punctate pattern of intrapalatal diathermy to achieve fibrosis within the palate and hence the requisite stiffening. The initial results of this procedure are encouraging showing a subjective improvement in snoring in 85.7 per cent of patients and an increase in sleeping in the same room as their partner every night, from 14.3 per cent pre-operatively to 57.1 per cent post-operatively.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome