J. Maw et J. Marsan, UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY VERSUS LASER-ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY IN THE TREATMENT OF SNORING, Journal of otolaryngology, 26(4), 1997, pp. 232-235
Objective: This study was performed to compare the efficacy, pain, and
complication rates between laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty a
nd conventional tonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Method: E
ighty patients who had undergone the laser procedure and 29 the conven
tional procedure were studied prospectively. Snoring was measured usin
g a new numeric snoring scale. Results: There were no statistically si
gnificant differences between groups for final snoring scores, pain, o
r complication rates. The criteria for selecting uvulopalatopharyngopl
asty candidates, which is described, resulted in a 97% success rate in
the treatment of snoring. Conclusion: Laser-assisted uvulopalatophary
ngoplasty and conventional tonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
are equally effective in the management of snoring in correctly selec
ted patients. They are similarly painful procedures. A new and simple
numeric snoring scale is described.