Injection Snoreplasty-a Simple Way to Treat Habitual Snoring

Abstract

Aims: Injection snoreplasty was recently introduced as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment for primary snoring. We assess the effectiveness of the treatment in our patients. Study Design: It was a prospective, non-randomised study on 54 patients with primary snoring. Place and Duration of Study: Study was done in the department of otolaryngology &head neck surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh, India over 7 years between January 2004 and December 2010. Methodology: Patients were questioned about their symptoms; a detailed clinical and radiological examination was done in all patients. All the causes of snoring were ruled out. 1-3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) injection was administered in all patients in 1-3 sittings. Patients were assessed after 1, 3 and 6 months and their improvement was noted Results: There were 47 males and 7 females enrolled in our study with mean age as 47.6 years. The mean duration of snoring was 76.1 months. The average BMI of patients was 28.11. All the patients except 4 were initially injected 1% STS injection; the others were injected 3%. 11 patients were re-injected at 1 month and 4 had 2nd re-injection at 3 month follow up. The mean improvement in symptoms was 57.24%. The only side effect was pain which in majority of patients was mild. There was no correlation between BMI and percentage of improvement. Conclusion: Injection snoreplasty is a safe and cost effective treatment for primary snoring.