|
Snoring is a common problem. In most cases, however, it is not a "disease", but simply the disturbing result of a change or enlargement in the palate caused by excess tissue.
When a person relaxes in sleep, the posterior (soft) palate will relax as well and collapse slightly. If the palate is larger than usual already, the airflow has to pass through a "bottleneck". The air presses through the constricted passage
in the mouth, and the soft palate in the posterior part of the mouth with the so-called uvula starts to vibrate. The vibration is what causes the snoring noise. |  |
What can be done?
By using the fairly new and gentle method of radiofrequency volume reduction (RaVoRTM, the ENT doctor is able to reduce and stiffen the posterior part of the palate. This is done under local anaesthesia by inserting a fine probe into the palate. A carefully measured amount of radiofrequency energy is administered through the probe and heats the application area. The tissue treated with heat decomposes with the help of the body's own immune system. This purposely caused, natural healing process leads to a volume reduction of the tissue and thus the stiffening |  |
of the soft palate. It may take a few weeks for the desired effect to show fully. After the intervention, light or moderate pain may occur in the mouth and throat, but will disappear or can be treated with painkillers. It is not unusual for slight swellings to occur in the palate, but those will go down again within a few days. Consult your ENT doctor to find out
more about the possible, but rare side effects following this intervention. After the stiffening takes place, air may flow freely through the throat. Most of the time the snoring noise is reduced or disappears as verified by a number of clinical studies that have been done.
This small surgical intervention is performed under local anaesthesia on an out-patient basis and will not take longer than a few minutes.
Afterwards the patient is able to get up and leave the surgery immediately and on his own. Post-operative follow-up, sick-leave or even a
stay at the hospital is generally not needed. Occasionally a second or very rarely a third treatment is necessary to achieve the best result possible.
|  | After the intervention, light or moderate pain may occur in the mouth and throat, but will disappear or can be treated with painkillers. It is not unusual for slight swellings to occur in the palate, but those will go down again withina few days. Consult your ENT doctor to find out
more about the possible, but rare side effects following this intervention. |  |
|
首页
