Ez. Osman et al., Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty versus laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty for the treatment of snoring: an objective randomised clinical trial, CLIN OTOLAR, 25(4), 2000, pp. 305-310
This study was designed to evaluate objectively the clinical effectiveness
of surgery for snoring and to compare the results of conventional uvulopala
topharyngoplasty (UPPP) and laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) in the
treatment of snoring. Patients who had been referred for investigation and
treatment of their snoring were randomly allocated to receive either UPPP o
r LAUP. Forty-seven patients with confirmed palatal flutter had surgery and
all of them had a preoperative and postoperative objective assessment of t
heir snoring loudness and duration in the home. The recording device (Snore
Box) is simple for the patient to operate, portable with a built in microp
hone, and able to produce objective results, which can be automatically ana
lysed. Of the 38 patients, who had technically valid recordings, 22 underwe
nt LAUP and 16 UPPP. Overall the mean postoperative Snore Index (SI) was le
ss than the preoperative SI (P < 0.0001), the average difference being 78.2
snores/h. There was no significant difference between the LAUP and UPPP re
garding the fall in the SI. This study is the first objective comparative s
tudy to demonstrate the effectiveness of snoring surgery.