Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-lrblm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-06T15:55:49.570Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Punctate diathermy of the soft palate: a new approach in the surgical management of snoring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

David J. Whinney ,
Peter A. Williamson  and
Philip G. Bicknell
David J. Whinney
Affiliation:
University Department of Otolaryngology, St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol.
Peter A. Williamson*
Affiliation:
University Department of Otolaryngology, St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol.
Philip G. Bicknell
Affiliation:
University Department of Otolaryngology, St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol.
*
Mr P. A. Williamson, Department of Otolaryngology, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath, Avon.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We present our experience in the surgical management of 21 snorers, utilizing a new approach designed to stiffen the palatal musculature, without compromising its function. This was achieved by using a punctate patterna of intrapalatal diathermy to achieve fibrosis within the palate and hence the requisite stiffening. The initial results of this procedure are encouraging showing a subjective improvement in snoring in 85.7 per cent of patients and an increase in sleeping in the same room as their partner every night, from 14.3 per cent pre-operatively to 57.1 per cent post-operatively.

Keywords

SnoringPalate, soft, surgery
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 109 , Issue 9 , September 1995 , pp. 849 - 852
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

References

Catterall, J., Whinney, D. (1993) Snoring and sleep apnoea. Respiratory Medicine 87: 1–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellis, P., Ffowcs-Williams, J., Shneerson, J. (1993) Surgical relief of snoring due to palatal flutter: a preliminary report. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 75: 286–290.Google ScholarPubMed
Fujita, S., Conway, W., Zorick, F., Roth, T. (1981) Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 89: 923–934.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golding-Wood, D., Brockbank, M., Swanston, A., Croft, C. (1990) Assessment of chronic snorers. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 83: 363–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haavisto, L., Suonpaa, J. (1994) Complications of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Clinical Otolaryngology 19: 243–247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koskenuovo, M., Partinen, M., Sarna, S., Kaprio, J., Langinvainio, H., Heikkila, K. (1985) Snoring as a risk factor for hypertension and angina pectoris. Lancet i: 893–895.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koskenuovo, M., Kaprio, J., Telakivi, T., Partinen, M., Heikkila, K., Sarna, S. (1987) Snoring as a risk factor for ischaemic disease and stroke in men. British Medical Journal 294: 16–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, B., Becker, G. (1994) Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for snoring: long-term results. Laryngoscope 104(9): 1150–1152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lugaresi, E., Cirignotta, F., Coccagna, G., Piana, C. (1980) Some epidemiological data on snoring and circulatory disturbances. Sleep 3: 221–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norton, P., Dunn, E. (1985) Snoring as a risk factor for disease: an epidemiological survey. British Medical Journal 291: 630–632.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Partinen, M., Palomaki, H. (1985) Snoring and cerebral infarction. Lancet ii: 1325–1326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simmons, F., Guilleminault, C, Silvestri, R. (1983) Snoring and some obstructive sleep apnea, can be cured by oropharyngeal surgery. Archives of Otolaryngology 109: 503–507.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stradling, J., Crosby, J., Payne, C. (1991) Self-reported snoring and daytime sleepiness in men aged 35–65 years. Thorax 46: 807–810.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed