Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty: six and eighteen month results.

Our ongoing evaluation of the results of laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) for snoring is presented. Follow-up between 18 and 24 months post-treatment completion, of patients with a successful result at six months, reveals that 22 per cent of these patients suffer failure of snoring control between these two evaluation points. This equates to an overall success rate at this time of 55 per cent. LAUP, like other surgical remedies for snoring, has a continued relapse rate. This must be considered when counselling patients.

Xenograft versus autograft in tympanoplasty.

This retrospective study compares the tympanoplasty success rate when using a xenograft (Zenoderm) or an autograft (temporalis fascia). Fifty-three ears were operated on over a three-year period. All the tympanoplasty operations were performed by the same surgeon. There were 43 ears in the temporalis fascia autograft group and 10 ears in the Zenoderm xenograft group. Both groups were similar with respect to patient age, type of tympanoplasty, area of tympanic membrane perforation and condition of the contralateral ear. The tympanoplasty success rate in the temporalis fascia autograft group was 95 per cent. The tympanoplasty success rate in the Zenoderm xenograft group was only 40 per cent. All Zenoderm tympanoplasty failures were regrafted with temporalis fascia autograft. There was a 100 per cent success rate with this salvage surgery. In conclusion, we suggest that Zenoderm is not a suitable graft material for tympanoplasty.