Cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation

Outpatient surgical therapy of habitual snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea has evolved significantly in recent years. We introduce the cautery-a ssisted palatal stiffening operation (CAPSO) and detail its important advan tages over uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, and palatal radiofrequency ablation, CAPSO is critically analyzed with regard to extent of surgery, need for repetition of procedure, results, complicati ons, predictors of success, and cost analysis. CAPSO is a mucosal surgery t hat induces a midline palatal scar that stiffens the floppy palate. Two hun dred six consecutive patients underwent CAPSO over an 18-month period, foll owed by office examination and telephone evaluation. The success rate was i nitially 92% and dipped to 77% after 1 year. CAPSO eliminates excessive sno ring caused by palatal flutter and has success rates that were comparable w ith those of traditional palatal surgery. CAPSO is a simple and safe office procedure that avoids the need for multiple-stage operations and does not rely on expensive laser systems or radiofrequency generators and hand piece s.