Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

Abstract

Surgical treatment options for patients suffering from Sleep Disordered Breathing marked a significant development in recent decades. To date, there is a huge variety of methods and techniques, developed to address this problem. The Introduction of laser and radiofrequency surgery in the daily practice, make possible the so called minimally invasive surgery. It can be done under local anaesthesia and in an outpatient setting. The purpose of this article is to introduce one of the most modern methods - Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). This is a relatively new method and the experience with it in Bulgaria is limited - for a lot of specialists the method is largely unknown as technical implementation and opportunities. Our purpose is to present this useful, relatively easy to perform and highly efficient method and we hope that more Bulgarian ENT specialists will begin to use it in their everyday practice.