UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY VERSUS LASER-ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY IN THE TREATMENT OF SNORING

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.