title: Analysis of short-term outcome after office-based laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty.
abstract: To determine the short-term effectiveness and outcome of office-based laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, a prospective statistically controlled study was done at the Department of Otolaryngology, Cleveland Clinic Florida. Thirty-eight consecutive snoring patients underwent a total of 98 laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasties, and data were gathered through examination, interview, and analog scales of snoring, pain, and other morbidity. In addition, a failure analysis was performed. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, and adjusted analysis of variance (p < 0.008). Our results suggest that snoring decreased significantly around each laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty treatment performed (4 to 8 weeks apart). Postoperative pain diminished after the first two laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty treatments. The only morbidity in the series was the result of significant pain, causing 77% of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty failures.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Ft. Lauderdale 33309, USA.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Astor
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hanft
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaranath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012913:Snoring / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*