EFFICACY OF COLD-STEEL UVULOPALATOPLASTY

Seven patients underwent cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty with tissue remo val similar to that being performed with laser-assisted uvulopalatopla sty. The severity and length of postoperative pain, days out of work, postoperative complications, and efficacy in reducing snoring were ass essed. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. The average length o f postoperative pain (inability to eat a completely normal diet) was 6 days. AII but one patient underwent only one session of cold-steel uv ulopalatoplasty with satisfactory relief of snoring. The remaining pat ient required two sessions. One patient had some mild postoperative bl eeding,which resolved with silver nitrate. Improvement in snoring goes as follows: marked improvement in three patients, moderate improvemen t in three patients, and slight improvement in one patient. None of th e patients had complete resolution or the same degree of snoring. Pati ents who underwent concomitant oropharyngeal procedures (i.e., tonsill ectomy) in addition to cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty fended to have pai n for a longer period of time and required a longer convalescence peri od. Cord-steel uvulopalatoplasty is an inexpensive and viable option t o outpatient laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for the reduction of sno ring in select patients.