Radiofrequency palatoplasty: soft tissue reduction for snoring

Resulting from the rough flow of air through the nose and throat during sleep, snoring can arise from transitory obstruction at various levels, rendering the sufferer feeling sleep deprived. A relatively new method using radiofrequency technology, called palatoplasty (somnoplasty), can be used to reduce the size of obstructive tissues in the nose and throat. In this study, we assess radiofrequency palatoplasty in the treatment of snoring. This nonrandomized prospective quasi-experimental study included 28 patients who snored at a level considered bothersome to their bed partner. Snoring and drowsiness were each subjectively scored using 20-point visual analogue scales before and after treatment.