LASER ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPLASTY IN SNORING PATIENTS.

Song, In Chul; Park, Weon Jin

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1997;24(2):301-305.
Published online March 1, 1997.

LASER ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPLASTY IN SNORING PATIENTS.

In Chul Song, Weon Jin Park

Abstract

Habitual snoring is common among males, especially among those who are overweight, and gets worse with the age. Snoring Is related to physical obstruction of breathing during sleep. This obstruction occurs when the palatal muscles, uvula muscles, and sometimes tonsiles relax during deep sleep and acts as vibrators. We have treated, with laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty(LAUP), twenty patients who suffer from snoring. CO2 laser was used and approximately I5-30 minutes of operation time was required. There were no singnificant complications, such as bleeding and asphyxia, in the 20 patients treated with LAUP.

Results
observed in the short term showed that 90% of the patients treated with LAUP considered thems to be essentially improved. Two patients developed scars at the posterior pillars. LAUP is a relatively simple and safe method which is performed at the hospital on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

Keywords: Snorting; Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty