Laser Resection of Palatopharynx on the Snorers

Abstract

Recently, a new method for treating snoring, called laser resection of palatopharynx (LRPP) was developed and we were to evaluate the clinical effect of LRPP on the snorers. The subjects of this study were 537 patients who were operated on from June, 1993 through June, 1994 at Severance Hospital. The operations were done with CO2 laser(Sharplan Co., Israel) and applicators at 20 watts and continuous mode. We evaluated the snorers in three different ways ; I, assessment of subjective symptoms. II psychodynamic analysis done by psychiatrist III. Assessment of subjective satisfaction by patient's evaluation. The improvement oI snoring was obtained in 76.4 and of Irregular respiration in 80.5%. The symptom of mouth dryness was improved in 54.5% and headache in 28.7%. In psychodynamic analysis insomnia was noted in 20.7% and was improved significantly after the operation but depression didn't show any significant improvement. The improvement of subjective satisfaction was the greatest in 4th week(84.4%) and decreased on the progress of follow-up. The most common intraoperative problem was bleeding(9.3%) and the most common postoperative complication was foreign body sensation(32.1%). LRPP had some advantages of an outpatient based operation with local anesthesia and little complications and is an effective method to lessen snoring and irregular respiration. However, the ong term follow-up will be needed to determine its full effect.