Snoring: a critical analysis of current treatment modalities. Does anything really work?

Abstract

To determine the current options available for the treatment of snoring in the symptomatic patient, as this can be troublesome not only for the patient, but also the patient's bed partner. These include both surgical and non-surgical measures. The main themes that will be addressed include over-the-counter snoring aids, oral appliances, and surgical options. Surgical options include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy, injection snoreplasty, and palatal implants. There are many alternatives available to treat snoring. None of these methods are without their negative aspects, therefore there is still a great need for further research and long-term follow-up studies to determine the best method. The final consensus of this review is that surgical options yield the best results, but these are often surgeon dependent, and none are free of relapses in snoring. Some options are also thought to offer several advantages, including less peri-operative pain and recovery time, less expense, and the ability to be performed in the office. The palatal implant system and radiofrequency thermal ablation appear to have relatively good outcomes, with little postoperative pain and relatively self-limited complications. They also have the convenience of an in-office procedure and less expense.