ArthroCare ENT: Uvulopalatoplasty

Uvulopalatoplasty

Coblation Uvulopalatoplasty

Coblation Uvulopalatoplasty involves removal of tissue in the soft palate and uvula to reduce the incidence of snoring and/or upper airway obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The procedure can be performed with virtually any EVac or PROcise Plasma Wand when used during a concurrent tonsillectomy procedure. The procedure can also be performed with the ReFlex CAUP Plasma Wand if finer dissection of tissue is desired without the need for tonsillectomy.

The benefits of Coblation Uvulopalatoplasty are:

Controlled and precise tissue removal
Less thermal and collateral tissue damage
Less postoperative pain

References

Belloso A, et al. Randomized-controlled study comparing post-operative pain between Coblation palatoplasty and laser palatoplasty. Clin Otolaryngol. 2006 Apr;31(2):138-43.

The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in post-op pain comparing KTP laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty without tonsillectomy (LAUP) with coblation uvulopalatoplasty with tonsillectomy (CP). The study also evaluated the impact of each surgical technique in reduction of snoring loudness.

The median overall pain was significantly less in the Coblation group compared with the laser group. A statistically significant reduction in post-operative pain was observed in the CP group after day 8, and maintained until the end of the study. Reduction of snoring loudness was significant in both groups. The use of analgesia was recorded as total number of doses per day. For the whole study period, the Coblation group used less analgesia than the LAUP group.
Tvinnereim M, et al. Plasma radiofrequency preceded by pressure recording enhances success for treating sleep-related breathing disorders. Laryngoscope. 2007 Apr;117(4):731-6.