Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty for the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

The favorable subjective short-term results of LAUP deteriorated in time. Postoperative polysomnography revealed that LAUP might lead to deterioration of existing apnea. These findings are probably related to velopharyngeal narrowing and progressive palatal fibrosis inflicted by the laser beam.

Collagen Type Analysis in the Soft Palate after Surgical Intervention with CO 2 Laser and Radiofrequency Ablation

“…These results may explain the data reported by Finkelstein et al, 9 who described a decrease from 88% to 65% of snoring, an improvement seen 12 months after treatment with the CO 2 laser. This may have been due to a decrease in collagen level, which could be completely restored by means of a new ambulatory surgical procedure with the CO 2 laser or radiofrequency ablation.…”

Is There a Better Way to Do Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty?

“…Comparable findings were recorded in nonapneic patients who snored (79%, 11/14) 9 irrespective of the type of laser surgery and in apneic patients (88%, 23/26) who underwent standard LAUP. 10 However, similar to the latter, there was a significant deterioration of the early favorable results and a significant aggravation of the state of snoring after 12.2 ± 9.9 months. Assessment of 5 other sleep-related symptoms at the end of the follow-up revealed a low success rate (52%, 13/25) and a 20% failure rate (5/25) that accorded with the poor results found earlier.…”

Long-Term Results in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) after Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

“…With increased use of the technique for treating patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, independent publications over a period of several years have reported an increase in the incidence of postoperative complications. In addition to postoperative pain, foreign body sensation was reported in 8–25% of patients, voice changes in 0–17.2%, and an increase in the incidence of dry mouth of between 16 and 42% [12], [15], [16]. 20% of our patients suffer from foreign body sensation in their throat and only 8% of patients suffer from persistence of nasal language or speech changes.…”