[Long-term results of surgical pharyngectomy (uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty) versus office CO2 laser (L.A.U.P.) for the treatment of uncomplicated snoring]. / Résultats à long terme de la pharyngotomie chirurgicale classique (uvulo-palato-pharyngoplastie) versus laser CO2 en ambulatoire dans le traitement de la ronchopathie simple.

Two treatments are habitually proposed for snoring without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the surgical pharyngotomy, and the treatment by laser done in the office. Our study analyses retrospectively, by telephone questionnaire, a group of 168 snorers, without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, treated by pharyngotomy (n = 71) or CO2 laser (n = 97) between 1989 and 1993. Results after a mean follow-up of 5 years, with a minimal of 3 years, show for the two procedures the same efficacity, and an equivalent prevalence of side effects. The rate of satisfaction for the patient and her bed-partner is about 50%, in relation to a degradation of therapeutic effect in the long run. We propose to precisely the results and the indications of the surgery and the laser for treatment of uncomplicated rhonchopathy.

Radiofrequency of the soft palate for sleep-disordered breathing: a 6-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term (>3 years) outcome of patients suffering from simple snoring or non-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treated by radiofrequency ablation of the soft palate. STUDY DESIGN: Observational retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven subjects were included between 1999 and 2006. Twenty-seven suffered from mild or moderate OSAS. All patients were treated by radiofrequency-assisted stiffening of the soft palate, with or without uvulectomy. Snoring (assessed on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS)), marital status, presence of cardiovascular risk factors or pathologies and follow-up time were evaluated by postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 6.3 ± 2.3 years. Mean snoring intensity decreased significantly in the immediate postoperative period (8.1 ± 2.9 to 3.5 ± 2.2 cm on VAS). Over the longer term, however, we observed a significant increase in snoring intensity (5.7 ± 2.9 cm), which nevertheless remained below the preoperative values (P<0.001). Bed-partners noticed a relapse of snoring in 92.7% of cases. Nine percent of couples separated. Hypertension and diabetes were diagnosed during follow-up in 12.1% and 6.6% of the subjects, respectively. A majority of patients failed to undergo repeat polysomnography or further treatment. CONCLUSION: Relapse of snoring was observed in nearly all patients in the long run, although intensity appears to remain lower than preoperatively. Most patients did not comply with the follow-up instructions and did not seek other forms of treatment when recurrence occurred.