New Treatment For Snoring Is Quick, Inexpensive And Relatively Painless

Washington, DC - September 24, 2000

A shot to the palate is a cost-effective alternative to traditional treatments for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Researchers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center have completed a study which demonstrates that Injection Snoreplasty, a low-cost alternative to traditional snoring treatments, is effective, relatively painless, and can be performed in 15 minutes in a physician's office. The study results found that the procedure has been effective for at least one year.

More than 40 million Americans are affected by sleep disordered breathing ranging in extremity from snoring to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Traditionally, primary snoring and OSAS have been treated surgically through several options: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), a painful, costly surgical option, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), a painful procedure that requires expensive laser equipment and multiple in-office visits, and cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation (CAPSO), a low-cost and simple option that causes significant pain and requires several days recuperation.

The most recent development for the treatment of snoring is radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which is minimally invasive and relatively painless. However, the equipment and per-procedure cost may exceed $2000.

The authors of the study, "Injection Snoreplasty: How to Treat Snoring Without All the Pain and Expense," are Scott E. Brietzke, MD and Eric A. Mair, MD, of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Their findings were presented Sunday, September 24th, 2000, at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.

Methodology

Twenty-seven patients, 25 males and 2 females with a mean age of 42 who were previously diagnosed with primary snoring, were chosen to take part in this study. Each patient was treated in a clinical setting. An oral topical anesthetic was applied directly on the soft palate. 2.00 cc of 1% or 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (a sclerotherapy agent) was then injected by needle into the midline soft palate. Approximately two minutes later, the area injected turned purple as the sclerotherapy agent began to take effect. Patients were observed for ten minutes following the procedure, then sent home with prescriptions for acetaminophen and acetaminophen with codeine.

Progress was followed by clinical exam and with a questionnaire delivered by e-mail. Patients were asked to respond to questions regarding pain levels, medication usage, speech or swallowing difficulties, voice changes, and the need for convalescence.

Study Results

Successful treatment of snoring, defined by statements of "snoring is gone" or "snoring no longer a problem," was reported by 92% of patients. Pain was minimal, and post-operative narcotics were not necessary. Current follow-up has been one-year with no recurrence of snoring or complications noted.

The long-term effect of injection snoreplasty is not yet known. However, general thinking is that the effects of palatal stiffening procedures will lessen over time as has been reported with UPPP, LAUP, RFA, and CAPSO. Injection Snoreplasty, however, has the advantage of being simple, relatively painless and low-cost, which suggests that patients would be more amiable to repeated treatments.

Having been demonstrated as an effective treatment option for primary snoring, it is reasonable to suspect that it may also play a role in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Conclusion

Injection Snoreplasty has been proven to be an effective and safe in-office treatment for snoring. In comparison to traditional snoring treatment options, it has the advantages of being simple, significantly less costly, and relatively painless with almost no convalescence. Accordingly, Injection Snoreplasty has the potential to replace many traditional palatal snoring treatments.

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