Treatment of snoring--with and without carbon dioxide laser

Thirty patients with bedpartners complaining of their heavy snoring which had resulted in separate bedrooms were treated surgically. Three different methods were used, each group consisted of 10 patients. In group A conventional scalpel excision was used for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty including tonsillectomy. In groups B and C, patients with small tonsils were selected and therefore the tonsils were saved. Group B was operated with carbon dioxide laser under a microscope and using micromanipulator. The same kind of excision was used as in group A but the tonsils were saved. Group C was operated as group B but using conventional scalpel excision technique. With a starting-point of snoring score 3 preoperatively in all groups, the mean postoperative snoring score in Group A was 1.0, in Group B 0.2 and in Group C 1.1. Patients with postoperative snoring scores of 0 and 1 were regarded as successful responders to surgery. No serious side effects were noted due to treatment.