title: Palatal implants for persistent snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty.
abstract: Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) was widely performed in 1990s as a surgical therapeutic procedure to improve snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, LAUP is not currently recommended as a treatment for OSA because the evidence for its efficacy is insufficient. Little is known about alternative minimally invasive surgery in patients who refuse continuous positive airway pressure or oral appliance after failed LAUP. We present a case of successful surgical treatment of persistent snoring and mild OSA with palatal implants after LAUP. This case suggests that palatal implants may be offered as an alternative surgical procedure for selective patients with persistent or recurrent snoring or mild OSA after LAUP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Joong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Euy Hyun
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Implants; Obstructive sleep apnea; Palate; Snoring