Laser Breakthrough in the Treatment of Snoring

Dr. Gatti's Media Events on Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty 

"LAUP"
Laser Assisted Uvula-Palatoplasty Patient Information

Snoring and "LAUP"

Everyone snores at one time or another and an estimated 20 million American adults are chronic snorers. 20% of men and 5% of women between the ages of 30 and 35 are so afflicted. By age 60, the percentage rises to 60% and 40% respectively. Snoring is caused by vibration of the soft tissues at the back of the throat. In general, three factors contribute to these vibrations; weak muscles, masses encroaching on the airway (in children, for example, enlarged tonsils and adenoids can produce snoring), and finally, obstructed nasal breathing. In some cases, a sleeper's airway may become completely blocked causing breathing to stop at intervals through the night. This process is known as obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that can lead to severe cardiac and pulmonary problems. Approximately one in 100 persons with loud snoring have sleep apnea.

Laser Assisted Uvula-Palatoplasty (LAUP) is a procedure developed in France with great success and introduced to this country in 1993. The Laser office treatment is bloodless and well tolerated by patients. Studies have shown that in 85% of patients treated, snoring is cured and an additional 12% report reduced levels of snoring. The laser procedure "stiffens" the palate and gradually lifts it like a "theatre curtain," This allows more room and prevents the vibration and flutter noise associated with snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea patients may also be helped with this cost effective office laser treatment, although it may not cure the problem. The traditional hospital procedure (UPPP) for severe sleep apnea is performed under general anesthesia and frequently costs more than $5,000.00.

Initial Evaluation Visit

At this visit, Dr. Gatti will review your history and perform a complete ENT examination. n. Examination will include a fiberoptic evaluation of the nose and throat area. A Sleep Disorder Questionnaire will be given to you and will help determine whether additional tests will be necessary (i.e., a sleep study to rule out sleep apnea). Spouse, roommate, or friend should accompany you at the time of this visit. Adults over the age of 16 are candidates for this procedure. The procedure is not experimental. It has been used in France since the late 1980's and has been very successful.

Treatment Schedule

The treatment usually consists of three office sessions of thirty minutes each. A designated Wednesday AM time will be reserved for you. A small amount of soft tissue in tile back of the throat is removed during each laser treatment.

What  You Can  Expect After Laser Treatment

A moderate sore throat for 5 to 10 days is to be expected. There is usually no bleeding. There is no voice change and speaking is not affected. Prescriptions and post-operative instructions will be given. You may return to work the same day.

Cost of Laser Treatment

The initial sleep disorder evaluation visit is $225.00. The total charge for each laser treatment session is $500.00. The average number of treatments for significant snore relief is 3. However, it may take as few as 2 treatments or up to a maximum of 5 to achieve satisfactory results. Each office treatment is scheduled 4 weeks apart. Full payment is to be made at the time of the initial evaluation and also before each laser treatment.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance carriers may not reimburse for treatment of snoring, as they consider this much like a cosmetic procedure. We will submit fees to insurance companies for the initial office visit and the laser treatments. Our patients will be provided an instruction sheet outlining how to proceed in contacting your insurance carrier, after which we will send a medical necessity letter to the insurance company. In this way, we will assist you in obtaining approval and reimbursement for LAUP.

Sleep Apnea Patients

More studies must be completed by our specialty to determine whether the laser procedure will significantly benefit sleep apnea patients. However, very preliminary experience has shown that in sleep apnea patients, the laser procedure is 40% effective in eliminating the need for CPAP. 40% of the patients report reducing the CPAP machine pressure and 20% report no change. A patient diagnosed with mild sleep apnea by overnight sleep testing will be placed on steroid medication after the laser treatment. Moderate and severe sleep apnea patients are advised to continue CPAP during laser treatment. Repeat sleep study tests will determine when and if CPAP should be discontinued.