Coblation-assisted soft palatal webbing flap uvulopalatoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of snoring

Until now, no single palatoplasty procedure has been proven to have the ideals that justify its use over the others. This study assessed a modified uvulopalatoplasty based on a soft palatal webbing flap to improve the short- and long-term results in cases of snoring. In accord with institutional review board approval, 93 patients complaining of snoring and/or mild obstructive sleep apnea were treated with this modified uvulopalatoplasty between April 2006 and June 2010 and fitting certain preoperative criteria, with minimum follow-up period of 6 months. All patients had preoperative subjective assessment of snoring, daytime sleepiness, and polysomnogram, if needed. Main parameters included subjective improvement of snoring, subjective assessment of postoperative pain, shape of the postoperative new palate, and postoperative complications. All statistical analyses were performed using T test. Data are displayed as means ± standard deviation. Statistical significance was accepted when P < 0.05. Eighty-seven patients completed the study; 5 patients did not continue the follow-up period. Eighty (91.9%) patients complained of snoring, whereas 7 (8.1%) patients were found to have mild obstructive sleep apnea in the sleep study. Snoring was cured in 68 (78%) patients, improved in 14 (16%) patients, and failed to improve in 5 (6%) patients. No recurrence of snoring was observed during the 6 months of follow-up. Postoperative pain was reduced in both duration and severity. No distortion of the shape of the new palate was observed because of significant fibrosis in all patients. No patient demonstrated clinically significant postoperative velopharyngeal incompetence after 6 months of follow-up. No major perioperative complications occurred. This new surgical technique may be an effective method to cure snoring, with elimination of the possibility of snoring recurrence, reduction of severity of postoperative pain, and maintenance of the dimensions of the oropharynx and postnasal space.