Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
BOOKS
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and StatisticalManual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision, "Sleep Disorders.". Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
"Disorders of the Oral Region." Section 9, Chapter 105 in TheMerck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, edited by Mark H. Beers, M.D., and Robert Berkow, M.D. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1999.
Pelletier, Kenneth R., M.D. The Best Alternative Medicine, Part I, Chapter 5, "Acupuncture," and Chapter 8, "Homeopathy." New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002.
Price, Shirley. Practical Aromatherapy, 3rd ed. London, UK: Thorsons, 1994.
"Sleep Disorders." Section 14, Chapter 173 in The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, edited by Mark H. Beers, M.D., and Robert Berkow, M.D. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1999.
PERIODICALS
Back, L. J., P. O. Tervahartiala, A. K. Piilonen, et al. "Bipolar Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation of the Soft Palate in Habitual Snorers Without Significant Desaturations Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging."American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 166 (September 15, 2002): 865-871.
Blumen, M. B., S. Dahan, B. Fleury, et al. "Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea."Laryngoscope 112 (November 2002): 2086–2092.
Brietzke, S. E., and E. A. Mair. "Injection Snoreplasty: How to Treat Snoring Without All the Pain and Expense."Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 124 (May 2001): 503–510.
Cartwright, R., T. K. Venkatesan, D. Caldarelli, and F. Diaz. "Treatments for Snoring: A Comparison of Somnoplasty and an Oral Appliance."Laryngoscope 110 (October 2000): 1680–1683.
Fischer, Y., B. Hafner, and W. J. Mann. "Radiofrequency Ablation of the Soft Palate (Somnoplasty). A New Method in the Treatment of Habitual and Obstructive Snoring." [in German] HNO 48 (January 2000): 33–40.
Grontved, A. M., and P. Karup. "Complaints and Satisfaction After Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty."Acta Otolaryngologica Supplementum 543 (2000): 190–192.
Hessel, N. S., and N. de Vries. "Diagnostic Workup of Socially Unacceptable Snoring. II. Sleep Endoscopy."European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 259 (March 2002): 158–161.
Kamami, Y. V. "Laser CO2 for Snoring. Preliminary Results."Acta Oto-Rhino-Laryngologica Belgica 44 (1990): 451-456.
Kyrmizakis, D. E., C. E. Papadakis, J. G. Bizakis, et al. "Sucralfate Alleviating Post-Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty Pain."American Journal of Otolaryngology 22 (January-February 2001): 55–58.
Littner, Michael, M.D., Clete A. Kushida, M.D., Ph.D., Kristyna Hartse, Ph.D., et al. "Practice Parameters for the Use of Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty: An Update for 2000."Sleep 24 (May 2001): 603–609.
Loth, S., B. Petruson, L. Wiren, and L. Wilhelmsen. "Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Male Snorers Using the Nottingham Health Profile."Acta Oto-Laryngologica 118 (September 1998): 723–727.
Morgan, Charles E., M.D., and Kenneth Johnson, M.D. "Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Surgery."eMedicine, May 20, 2002 [cited May 10, 2003].
Nuñez-Fernandez, David, M.D., and Manuel Fernandez-Muradas, M.D. "Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Upper Airway Evaluation."eMedicine, June 6, 2002 [cited May 10, 2003].
O'Brien, L. M., C. R. Holbrook, C. B. Mervis, et al. "Sleep and Neurobehavioral Characteristics of 5- to 7-Year-Old Children with Parentally Reported Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."Pediatrics 111 (March 2003): 554–563.
O'Connor, G. T., B. K. Lind, E. T. Lee, et al. "Variation in Symptoms of Sleep-Disordered Breathing with Race and Ethnicity: The Sleep Heart Health Study."Sleep 26 (February 1, 2003): 74–79.
Raphaelson, M., and T. S. Hakim. "Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Dental Patients."Dental Clinics of North America 45 (October 2001): 797–816.
Rose, E., R. Staats, J. Schulte-Monting, et al. "Long-Term Compliance with an Oral Protrusive Appliance in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea." [in German] Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift 127 (June 7, 2002): 1245–1249.
Ryan, C. F., and L. L. Love. "Unpredictable Results of Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea."Thorax 55 (May 2000): 399–404.
Scher, A. I., R. B. Lipton, and W. F. Stewart. "Habitual Snoring as a Risk Factor for Chronic Daily Headache."Neurology 60 (April 22, 2003): 1366–1368.
Seemann, R. P., J. C. DiToppa, M. A. Holm, and J. Hanson. "Does Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty Work? An Objective Analysis Using Pre- and Postoperative Polysomnographic Studies."Journal of Otolaryngology 30 (August 2001): 212–215.
Truelson, John M., MD, and D. Heath Roberts, DDS. "Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Prosthetic Management."eMedicine, April 15, 2002 [cited May 10, 2003].
Woodson, B. T., A. Derowe, M. Hawke, et al. "Pharyngeal Suspension Suture with Repose Bone Screw for Obstructive Sleep Apnea."Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 122 (March 2000): 395–401.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA). 4929 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 428, Los Angeles, CA 90010. (323) 937-5514.
American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. One Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3357. (703) 836-4444.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). One Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 920, Westchester, IL 60154. (708) 492-0930.
American Dental Association. 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. (312) 440-2500.
American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA). 1424 K Street NW, Suite 302, Washington, DC 20005. (202) 293-3650.
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR). Two Rockledge Centre, Suite 10038, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7920, Bethesda, MD 20892-7920. (301) 435-0199.
OTHER
American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA). ConsideringSurgery for Snoring? [May 10, 2003].
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). FactsAbout Sleep Apnea. NIH Publication No. 95-3798 [cited April 13, 2003].
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A physician explains some of the most common sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. The video begins by explaining the process of sleep and what occurs in the brain as we sleep. Video and graphic animations are used as teaching tools throughout.
Heavy snorers have their air flow impeded by the structures at the back of the mouth and nose (A and B), which can be alleviated by surgery. In uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, the patient's uvula, soft palate, and tonsils are removed (C and D). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
Other Information
Surgery is also available as a method of correcting social snoring. Some procedures, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, attempt to widen the airway by removing tissues in the back of the throat, including the uvula and pharynx. These surgeries are quite invasive, however, and there are risks of adverse side effects. The most dangerous risk is that enough scar tissue could form within the throat as a result of the incisions to make the airway more narrow than it was prior to surgery, diminishing the airspace in the velopharynx. Scarring is an individual trait, so it is difficult for a surgeon to predict how much a person might be predisposed to scarring. Some patients have reported the development of severe sleep apnea as a result of damage to their airway caused by pharnygeal surgery. Currently, the American Medical Association does not approve of the use of lasers to perform operations on the pharnyx or uvula.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a relatively new surgical treatment for snoring. This treatment applies radiofrequency energy and heat (between 77°C to 85°C) to the soft tissue at the back of the throat, such as the soft palate and uvula, causing scarring of the tissue beneath the skin. After healing, this results in stiffening of the treated area. The procedure takes less than one hour, is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and usually requires several treatment sessions. Discomfort and pain is usually minimal. Radiofrequency ablation is frequently effective in reducing the severity of snoring, but, often does not completely eliminate snoring.
Bipolar radiofrequency ablation, a technique used for coblation tonsillectomy, is also used for the treatment of snoring.
Other Information
In 2006, estimates of the direct medical costs of allergic rhinitis in the US ranged from $1.16 billion to $4.5 billion, rising to $7.7 billion when indirect costs were included.
From: AHRQ
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