title: Medium-term outcome of palatal surgery for snoring using the Somnus unit.
abstract: The aim of this study was to retrospectively survey patients who had undergone radiofrequency ablation of the soft palate for snoring complaints. Fifty-nine patients who had undergone radiofrequency ablation were sent an anonymous questionnaire to assess snoring (using visual analogue scales), pain and satisfaction with the procedure. Sixty-one per cent of the group returned the questionnaire. The mean time since operation was 17.5 months. Taking an improvement in snoring of 50 per cent or greater as a successful operation, snoring improvement occurred in 22 per cent. Post-operative pain was minimal with a median pain score of zero. Information was requested on whether the patient would undergo this procedure again, 50 per cent responded that they would and 44 per cent would advise a friend in the same situation to have this procedure. Radiofrequency ablation of the soft palate, as in other forms of surgery for snoring, seems to have a relapse rate over the long-term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome