Palatal Muscle Resection(PMR) for the Treatment of Snoring Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to introduce a new surgical method (Palatal Muscle Resection, PMR) for the treatment of snoring patients. This study contained the surgical technique of PMR and the objective and subjective outcomes of PMR. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty-one patients with snoring were examined (19 male, 2 female) in a prospective manner. Questionnaires based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were completed by patients and their respective bed partners before and after PMR. Five patients who underwent PMR have completed pre and post operative (after 4 weeks) polysomnographic (PSG) studies. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was analyzed 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after the surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Subjective questionnaires showed statistically significant improvements (ESS; from 10.7 to 6.7). The VAS was decreased from 4.3 in 1 dayto 2 in 7 days. CONCLUSION: The PMR is a simple and painless office-based method to treat snoring. Long term follow up studies with more patients would be required.