The Journal of Laryngology & Otology

Table of Contents - August 1996 - Volume 110, Issue 08  

Main Articles

CO2 Laser palatoplasty: early results

D. R. Ingramsa1 c1, P. D. R. Spraggsa1, M. B. Pringlea1 and C. B. Crofta1

a1 Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, 330-336 Gray's Inn Road, London, UK

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that snoring causes significant social dysfunction. In the absence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, palatal surgery offers a very good chance of eliminating or reducing snoring. The traditional operation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty remains the ‘gold standard’, but may be complicated by velopharyngeal incompetence, severe post-operative pain and even nasopharyngeal stenosis. A newer technique to reduce snoring caused by palatal flutter by using a neodymnium: yttrium aluminium garnet laser to stiffen the soft palate has been introduced recently by another unit. We show that this procedure can be carried out using a CO2 laser, and present the initial results of the first 29 patients operated on at The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital.

(Accepted April 05 1996)

Key words

Correspondence:

c1 Address for correspondence: Mr D. R. Ingrams, 39 Fernside Road, Balham, London SW12 8LN.

Related Content