CO2 laser palatoplasty: early results.
It is now widely accepted that snoring causes significant social dysfunction. In the absence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, palatal surgery offers a very good chance of eliminating or reducing snoring. The traditional operation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty remains the 'gold standard', but may be complicated by velopharyngeal incompetence, severe post-operative pain and even nasopharyngeal stenosis. A newer technique to reduce snoring caused by palatal flutter by using a neodymnium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser to stiffen the soft palate has been introduced recently by another unit. We show that this procedure can be carried out using a CO2 laser, and present the initial results of the first 29 patients operated on at The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital.
Ingrams
D R
DR
Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
Spraggs
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PD
Pringle
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MB
Croft
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CB
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery
D002245:Carbon Dioxide