Evaluation of potential predictors of outcome of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for snoring.
OBJECTIVE
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a common treatment for snoring, but up to 50% of patients obtain little or no sustained benefit. We investigated whether pre-operative measurements from lateral cephalometry, acoustic rhinometry, analysis of snoring sounds, and body mass index (BMI) could predict which snorers benefited from LAUP.


METHODS
Fifty-five snoring patients were assessed pre- and 6 months post-LAUP. Snoring severity was assessed by objective sound level recorded during polysomnography, and a Snoring Symptoms Inventory (SSI) questionnaire.


RESULTS
The outcome of surgery was assessed by changes in objective sound measurements and in SSI, 6 months after LAUP.


CONCLUSIONS
Relationships between the predictive measurements and outcome were at best only weak and none had sufficient predictive value to be useful in clinical practice.
Macdonald
Audrey
A
Department of Medical Physics, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Drinnan
Michael
M
Johnston
Andrew
A
Reda
Mohamed
M
Griffiths
Clive
C
Wilson
Janet
J
Gibson
G John
GJ
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*