title: Treatment of primary snoring using modified radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty.
abstract: Snoring is a common complaint, especially among the elderly individuals. In the treatment of snoring, many options, surgical or nonsurgical, are available. In this randomized study, we used a modified technique including some components of radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (RAUP) and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty UPPP (modified-RAUP, MRAUP) and RAUP in a control group. A total of 60 patients (58 male and 2 female), 30 in each group (MRAUP and RAUP groups), with an average age of 38 +/- 9 years were included in the study. In the MRAUP group, in addition to the modified surgery, preoperative steroid injection was used as a preemptive analgesic and pre-incisional steroid injection and closure of the edges of the incision were performed to achieve better relief of pain. Snoring score, pain at rest and during swallowing, analgesic consumption and speech score were evaluated using standard 10 cm visual analog scales (VAS). Operation time and other complications were recorded. The patients in the MRAUP group had better pain scores, both at rest and during swallowing, and less analgesic consumption. Although operation time was longer in the MRAUP group compared to that of the RAUP group, snoring score, evaluated from day 1 to the 6th month after operation, was significantly better in the MRAUP group. Postoperative speech scores at each visit were similar in both groups. In the MRAUP group, 87% of the patients (26 patients) had a final VAS for snoring below 3, while in the RAUP group 63% of the patients (19 patients) were below 3 on the scale (P < 0.05). Thus, MRAUP seems to be a promising technique for surgery as a treatment for snoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. dryoruk_40@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yoruk
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akgun
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sutbeyaz
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aktan
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ucuncu
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altas
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Araz
authors.forename: Ali Fuat
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Erdem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012913:Snoring / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D005938:Glucocorticoids