Treatment of Snoring and the Change of Surgical Treatment

Kim, Kyung Su

Review

Journal of Rhinology 2006;13(2):80-86.
Published online November 30, 2006.

Treatment of Snoring and the Change of Surgical Treatment

Kyung Su Kim

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ydrhinol@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

코골기의 치료와 수술법의 변화

김경수

연세대학교 의과대학 이비인후과학교실

Abstract

Although snoring is a common medical symptom, it is a cause not only of social problems but of otolaryngological illnesses such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Various treatment methods have been used to treat snoring, including Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which is a surgical approach to treating snoring and OSAS. Recently, the laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is being used to treat snoring in an out-patient basis. In addition, with the advancement of medical equipments, radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction method, implant surgery, and injection snoreplasty method were also introduced. Other surgical methods such as lateral pharyngotomy and uvulopalatal flap were also tried. Despite these new surgical methods, long term follow-up after the surgery is needed if better surgical outcomes are to be obtained.

Key Words: Snoring;Surgery;Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome;Laser