LASER-ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPLASTY WITH ND-YAG LASER FOR SLEEP DISORDERS

We evaluated the apnea index (AI), the oxygen saturation above 95% (SA 95), the lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), and snoring before and after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) in 106 patients with obstruct ive sleep apnea syndrome (n=59) or snoring (n=47). Type 1 LAUP was per formed in 42 patients and type 2 LAUP in 64 patients. A 50% or greater reduction in AI was observed in 15 patients (35.7%) who underwent typ e 1 LAUP and 37 patients (57.8%) who underwent type 2 LAUP. Snoring wa s diminished in 18 (51.4%) of 35 patients who underwent type 1 LAUP an d 30 (55.6%) of 54 patients who underwent type 2 LAUP. SA95 and LSAT s howed no difference. No serious complications such as significant blee ding, postoperative episodes of asphyxia, nasopharyngeal stenosis, or nasal regurgitation were observed. LAUP was an effective outpatient tr eatment.