Laser Uvuloplasty in the Therapy of Primary Ronchopathy
Klozar J., Plzák J.
Klinika ORL a chirurgie hlavy a krku, 1. LF UK, FN Motol, Praha, Katedra otorinolaryngologie IPVZ, Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. J. Betka, DrSc. |
|
Summary:
Laser assisted uvuloplasty (LAUP) is one of the most frequent interventions for
primary snoring. The aim of paper is to evaluate the results and side effects of own modification of
this operation.
Questionnaires of 49 patients were evaluated retrospectively 6 to 26months after the operation. The
effect of the intervention on snoring was evaluated by visual assessment score (VAS) from 0 (no
snoring) to 5 (asocial snoring). The average value of VAS before operation was 4.1,while after it was
1.93. Snoring was improved in 84 % of patients. The average improvement was 2.27, which is less
than half of the VAS range. Postoperative pain was described as mild in 22%. Majority of patients
(53%) reported pain for up 7 or 10 days. More than half (55%) of the patients experienced new
sensation in the neck after operation, 12% described it as agreeable, 43% as unpleasant. Globus was
the most frequent unpleasant symptom. In 16% of patients these symptoms persist for more than 6
months after the operation. Only half of the patients would decide to be operated on again when
having the experience with operation and postoperative course. The reasons for not deciding for
operation was the lack of benefit (improvement of VAS 0.45 in this subgroup) and postoperative pain
(VAS improvement 2.8). Among patients decided for LAUP having the experience were two thirds
of patients with persisting symptoms in the neck.
LAUP is effective in 84% of patients with primary ronchopaty. Postoperative pain represents the
most important discomfort for majority of patients. Unpleasant feelings persist in 16% of patients
and are mostly not important.
Key words:
snoring, surgery, LAUP, visual assessment score, postoperative pain.
|