Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present our results and experience in the treatment of snoring using the non-ablative Erbium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser. Twenty-four patients (18 male and 6 female) with snoring problems due to soft palate hypertrophy were treated with 3 treatment procedures with Er:YAG 2940-nm laser (long pulse mode, 10 Hz, fluence 1.8–2.0 J/cm2) performed at 2-week intervals. The treatment procedures were performed in outpatient settings. One treatment session lasts 15–20 min. Subjective (questionnaires) and objective (polygraph) outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 3 months after the final laser treatment. Wilcoxon Signed Rank was used to compare before and after scores. All polygraph variables showed some improvement 3 months after the end of treatment; however, only the reduction of the number of hypopnea episodes per hour was statistically significant (p = 0.034). In 13/24 patients, snoring time accounted for less than 5% of the sleep time after the treatment compared to 6/24 patients at baseline. The questionnaire survey showed statistically significant improvement in the quality of sleep and life of the patients as well as their partners after Er:YAG treatment (p < 0.001). The assessment of daytime sleepiness using the Epworth scale also improved 3 months after the end of treatment (p = 0.010). Based on our observations, the treatment of snoring with the Er:YAG laser is an effective and non-invasive therapeutic method. Further studies with long-term follow-up and a control group are warranted to confirm the promising results obtained in case series.
Highlights
Snoring is a common term for the acoustic effect that occurs in some individuals during sleep
Due to the severity of possible complications associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, snoring itself seems to be alarming for patients and their environment that should prompt these patients to undergo diagnosis and treatment
The aim of this paper is to present our own results and experience in the treatment of snoring using the Erbium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er):YAG laser
Summary
Snoring is a common term for the acoustic effect that occurs in some individuals during sleep. It is a result of the vibration of flaccid tissues, mainly of the soft palate, the uvula, palatine arches, and partially collapsed pharyngeal walls [1]. The vibration of these tissues is caused by the stream of air passing through the airways. Snoring is both a medical and social problem. The most common reason for seeking help is due to the fact that snoring is not accepted in the society [5]
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