| ENT MATTERS |
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Palatal Surgery
Uvulo-Palato-Plasty
This operation reduces the size of the uvula and
changes the shape of the soft palate, in order to stop
the vibration of the uvula against the back of the throat.
This procedure can be done with diathermy, laser,
‘cold steel’ and sutures (stitches) or radio-frequency.
Coblation (radio-frequency) assisted uvulo-palato-
plasty (CAUP) is the preferred method of the author.
This is a procedure for people who are not obese and
suffer from simple snoring with or without mild
obstructive sleep apnoea.
The operation can be performed under local or general
anaesthesia using a radio-frequency instrument that
causes the soft palate to become stiff (due to
scarring/fibrosis) and also re-shapes the uvula.
There is minimal risk of bleeding during the operation.
The recovery is fast with antibiotics, painkillers and a
local anaesthetic spray given after the procedure.
The recovery is fast with minimal time off work if it is
done under general anaesthetic. The current trend is
for this procedure to be done under local anaesthesia
to reduce the patient’s recovery time.
This procedure is usually successful if the patient does
not gain weight. Rarely, a second procedure may be
necessary.
Uvulo-Palato-Pharyngoplasty
The aim of this operation is to change the shape of the
uvula and the soft palate but also to remove the tonsils
that block the airway.
It can be done with diathermy, laser, ‘cold steel’ and
sutures (stitches) or Coblation radio-frequency, which
is less painful (due to less thermal damage to the
tissue compared with diathermy or laser and minimal or
no blood loss compared to ‘cold steel’ dissection).
Coblation (radio-frequency) Assisted Uvulo-Palato-
Pharyngoplasty):
This is a more extensive procedure that is used for
snorers with enlarged tonsils and / or OSA.
The operation is always carried out under general
anaesthesia and involves the re-shaping of the uvula
and the soft palate together with the removal of the
tonsils (tonsillectomy) using Coblation Radio-frequency.
There is no blood loss during the operation but there is
post-operative pain and risk of bleeding relevant to
tonsillectomy.
The recovery time is approximately 10 days. The
recovery is fast with antibiotics, painkillers and a local
anaesthetic spray given after the procedure to help the
recovery and during this period the patient should
refrain from work.
Again, the success of this operation depends on the
patient’s weight gain afterwards. If the patient’s body
mass index (BMI) is within normal limits (< 29) then the
success rate is high.
Uvulo-Palato-Plasty
This operation reduces the size of the uvula and
changes the shape of the soft palate, in order to stop
the vibration of the uvula against the back of the throat.
This procedure can be done with diathermy, laser,
‘cold steel’ and sutures (stitches) or radio-frequency.
Coblation (radio-frequency) assisted uvulo-palato-
plasty (CAUP) is the preferred method of the author.
This is a procedure for people who are not obese and
suffer from simple snoring with or without mild
obstructive sleep apnoea.
The operation can be performed under local or general
anaesthesia using a radio-frequency instrument that
causes the soft palate to become stiff (due to
scarring/fibrosis) and also re-shapes the uvula.
There is minimal risk of bleeding during the operation.
The recovery is fast with antibiotics, painkillers and a
local anaesthetic spray given after the procedure.
The recovery is fast with minimal time off work if it is
done under general anaesthetic. The current trend is
for this procedure to be done under local anaesthesia
to reduce the patient’s recovery time.
This procedure is usually successful if the patient does
not gain weight. Rarely, a second procedure may be
necessary.
Uvulo-Palato-Pharyngoplasty
The aim of this operation is to change the shape of the
uvula and the soft palate but also to remove the tonsils
that block the airway.
It can be done with diathermy, laser, ‘cold steel’ and
sutures (stitches) or Coblation radio-frequency, which
is less painful (due to less thermal damage to the
tissue compared with diathermy or laser and minimal or
no blood loss compared to ‘cold steel’ dissection).
Coblation (radio-frequency) Assisted Uvulo-Palato-
Pharyngoplasty):
This is a more extensive procedure that is used for
snorers with enlarged tonsils and / or OSA.
The operation is always carried out under general
anaesthesia and involves the re-shaping of the uvula
and the soft palate together with the removal of the
tonsils (tonsillectomy) using Coblation Radio-frequency.
There is no blood loss during the operation but there is
post-operative pain and risk of bleeding relevant to
tonsillectomy.
The recovery time is approximately 10 days. The
recovery is fast with antibiotics, painkillers and a local
anaesthetic spray given after the procedure to help the
recovery and during this period the patient should
refrain from work.
Again, the success of this operation depends on the
patient’s weight gain afterwards. If the patient’s body
mass index (BMI) is within normal limits (< 29) then the
success rate is high.
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