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Injection snoreplasty: how to treat snoring without all the pain and expense
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA.
Objective:
We introduce Injection Snoreplasty: an innovative, safe, and effective palatal snoring procedure with minimal cost and discomfort to the patient. A well-described sclerotherapy agent, Sotradecol, is injected into the soft palate to reduce/eliminate palatal flutter snoring.
Study Design And Setting:
Twenty-seven patients with a diagnosis of palatal flutter snoring (respiratory disturbance index less than 10) by sleep study were enrolled in the protocol. Office treatment sessions were performed 6 to 8 weeks apart. Success was judged by subjective improvement in snoring and objective evidence of palatal stiffening/scarring.
Results:
Twenty-five (92%) of 27 patients reported significant decrease in snoring. There were no significant postinjection complications. Visual analog pain scale confirmed minimal discomfort. Most patients received more than 1 treatment (average, 1.8) in order to receive optimal palatal stiffening.
Conclusion/Significance:
Injection Snoreplasty is a simple, safe, and effective office treatment for primary snoring. Advantages over current snoring procedures include simplicity, low cost, decreased posttreatment pain levels, and minimal/no convalescence.