title: CO2 laser palatoplasty: early results.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ingrams
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Spraggs
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Croft
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide