Objective benefit of laser palatoplasty for non-apnoeic snoring.

M. J. Drinnan, H. C. Richardson, P. R. Close, A. J. Smithson, J. E. S. White, C. J. Griffiths, H. F. Marshall, G. J. Gibson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Laser palatoplasty (LPP) is widely used for the treatment of non-apnoeic snoring, despite the lack of objective data supporting its use. We report measurements of snoring in a prospective study of LPP, and we compare the results with a previous study of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Twenty patients with an apnoea/hypopnoea index <20 h−1underwent LPP for habitual snoring. Overnight sound recordings were compared before and 6 months after operation using three objective indices; L1 (the level exceeded by the loudest 1% of sound), L5 (the level exceeded by the loudest 5% of sound) and P50 (% total sleep time above 50 dBA). The subjective impression of snoring severity (Wilcoxon test, P < 0.001), and objective indices L1 and P50 (t-test, P < 0.001) showed significant reductions after LPP. The mean change in L1 was 4.2 dBA, comparable to that we previously reported for UPPP, while P50 was reduced to less than one-third its preoperative value. No other sleep variables changed significantly following LPP. We conclude that LPP results in reduced snoring volume comparable to that following UPPP.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)335-338
Number of pages4
JournalClinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 1999
Externally publishedYes

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