[Short term evaluation of a new treatment method for primary snoring: radiofrequency energy]. / Evaluation à court terme d'une nouvelle méthode de traitement du ronflement simple : l'énergie radiofréquencielle.

The usual treatments for primary snoring are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPPP) and laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty, their morbidity is known, particularly considerable postoperative pain. We have performed a prospective study on a population of 23 patients with primary snoring (respiratory disturbance index =6 +/- 1) to 1) evaluates by means of questionnaires the short term (2 month) efficacy of the application of radiofrequency energy at the level of the soft palate, and 2) assess the morbidity associated with this treatment in this population. In the group of patients receiving treatment at three sites in a maximum of three sessions, the short term satisfaction rate was 75 %. The postoperative pain was of minor importance and the use of major analgesics was necessary in 2 cases only. We conclude that this treatment with radiofrequency energy seems to be an effective treatment for primary snoring at short term. The morbidity, specially the pain seems to be distinctly inferior compared to UPPP or laser treatment. Further prospective studies on a larger number of patients and with a longer follow-up are absolutely necessary to confirm these results.

Intracordal autologous fat injection for aspiration after recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

The present prospective study was designed to analyze the results achieved with intracordal autologous fat injection for aspiration in a series of 20 patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Swallowing was documented by having each patient swallow puréed food colored with methylene blue during nasofibroscopy. No laryngeal adverse effects were associated with the intracordal injection of fat. One patient developed an abdominal hematoma at the donor site. The intracordal injection of autologous fat after 1 year resulted in an 85% successful rehabilitation of swallowing. One of the three patients who failed the initial rehabilitation of swallowing was managed successfully with reinjection of autologous fat, resulting in a 90% definitive successful rehabilitation of swallowing. In all patients, speech and voice were immediately improved after the intracordal injection of autologous fat. Objective acoustic recordings documented the improvement in selected speech and voice parameters when compared with pretreatment data. Our presented experience shows that the intracordal autologous fat injection is a safe and valuable treatment option in patients with aspiration after recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.