OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF SNORING BEFORE AND AFTER LASER-ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPLASTY

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is an outpatient staged surgic al procedure for the treatment of snoring. Each patient undergoes a se ries of procedures with the end point being patient and bed partner sa tisfaction in most cases, The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate the frequency, pattern, and volume of snoring in patients pr ior to and following each LAUP procedure. A sonographic device, SNAP(R ), which records oronasal respiration, was used to assess patients at home. A digital analysis of the frequency, pattern, and volume was the n performed. Twenty-seven patients have been completely evaluated with this recording device. The findings demonstrate that the LAUP procedu re alters the snoring sound, The maximum, average, and velum-like resp iratory noise loudness all showed a statistically significant decrease when comparing the preoperative snoring to the final recording after treatment was completed. In addition, the fundamental frequency of the snoring increased significantly after each LAUP procedure, No change was seen in the snoring index following treatment. These objective res ults correlated well with the subjective responses of the patients and their bed partners. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the LAUP procedure alters snoring in a favorable manner by both objective data and subjective accounts.