Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Outpatient erbium:YAG (2940 nm) laser treatment for snoring: a prospective study on 40 patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 22 October 2018

This article has been updated

Abstract

Snoring is a sleep phenomenon due to the partial upper airway obstruction during sleep which causes vibration of the tissues of the rhino-oro-hypopharynx and less frequently the larynx. This study evaluated the use and effectiveness of the erbium:YAG 2940-nm laser as an adjunctive in providing treatment for patients suffering from chronic snoring-related sleep disorders. A prospective study of 40 consecutive patients with snoring and sleep disorders was performed, assessing data before and after three Er:YAG laser treatment sessions. During laser treatment, the pain was almost absent. There were no side effects, except a very mild sore throat in 1 out of 40 patients. The patient’s evaluation of satisfaction of the results obtained after the treatments showed that 85% of cases were very satisfied, 5 patients (12.5%) reported being fairly satisfied with the treatment and only 1 subject (2.5%) was not satisfied. Mallampati, Friedman Tongue Position, and degree of O (oropharynx) at nose oropharynx hypopharynx and larynx classification were significantly decreased after the laser sessions. The decrease of Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Visual Analogue Scale for loudness of snoring, waking up during sleep because of snoring, dry mouth on waking, and choking was all statistically significant. The incidence of dreaming during the night also raised significantly; 30/40 (75%) of cases perceived less tightness in their throat and better breathing after treatment. These results were stable at 20 months follow-up (14–24 q) in 72% of cases. Nonsurgical and non-invasive Er:YAG laser treatment demonstrated to be a valid procedure in reducing the loudness of snoring.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

  • 22 October 2018

    In the originally published article, the name of the first author was incorrectly labeled. Given name is Isabelle and family name is Fini Storchi.

  • 22 October 2018

    In the originally published article, the name of the first author was incorrectly labeled. Given name is Isabelle and family name is Fini Storchi.

References

  1. Mannarino MR, Di Filippo F, Pirro M (2012) Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Eur J Intern Med 23(7):586–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gałecki P, Florkowski A, Zboralski K, Pietras T, Szemraj J, Talarowska M (2011) Psychiatric and psychological complications in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pneumonol Alergol Pol 79(1):26–31

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Petruson B (1990) Snoring can be reduced when the nasal airflow is increased by the nasal dilator. Nozovent Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 116(4):462–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanches I, Martins V, dos Santos JM (2015) Obstructive sleep apnea refractory to treatment due to floppy epiglottis. Arch Bronconeumol 51(2):94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Xu H, Yu H, Jia R, Gao Z, Huang W, Peng H (2015) The preliminary study of the origin characters of snore in simple snorers. Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 29(11):977–979 983

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Server EA, Alkan Z, Yiğit Ö, Yasak AG (2016) Long-term results of pillar implant procedure. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 26(5):258–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Olszewska E, Panek J, O’Day J, Rogowski M (2014) Usefulness of snoreplasty in the treatment of simple snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome—preliminary report. Otolaryngol Pol 68(4):184–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chiesa Estomba CM, Rivera Schmitz T, Ossa Echeverri CC, Betances Reinoso FA, Fariña Conde J, Alonso Parraga D (2015) The treatment of snoring by radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalatoplasty and results after one-session protocol: a prospective, longitudinal, non-randomized study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272(10):3059–3063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pazos G, Mair EA (2001) Complications of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 125(5):462–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rombaux P, Hamoir M, Bertrand B, Aubert G, Liistro G, Rodenstein D (2003) Postoperative pain and side effects after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, and radiofrequency tissue volume reduction in primary snoring. Laryngoscope 113:2169–2173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Nishigawa K, Hayama R, Matsuka Y (2017) Complications causing patients to discontinue using oral appliances for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. J Prosthodont Res 61(2):133–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Epstein LJ, Kristo D, Strollo PJ Jr, Friedman N, Malhotra A, Patil SP, Ramar K, Rogers R, Schwab R, Weaver EM, Weinstein MD (2009) Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. J Clin Sleep Med 5:263–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cetinkaya EA, Turker M, Kiraz K, Gulkesen HK (2016) Er:Yag laser treatment of simple snorers in an outpatient setting. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 78(2):70–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sher AE, Thorpy MJ, Shprintzen RJ, Spielman AJ, Burack B, McGregor PA (1985) Predictive value of Muller maneuver in selection of patients for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Laryngoscope 95:1483–1487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vicini C, De Vito A, Benazzo M, Frassineti S, Campanini A, Frasconi P, Mira E (2012) The nose oropharynx hypopharynx and larynx (NOHL) classification: a new system of diagnostic standardized examination for OSAHS patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 269(4):1297–1300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Westcott CJ, Hopkins MB, Bach K, Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA (2004) Fundoplication for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. J Am Coll Surg 199(1):23–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Friedman M, Hamilton C, Samuelson CG, Lundgren ME, Pott T (2013) Diagnostic value of the Friedman tongue position and Mallampati classification for obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148(4):540–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Smith SS, Oei TP, Douglas JA, Brown I, Jorgensen G, Andrews J (2008) Confirmatory factor analysis of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep Med 9(7):739–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Majaron B, Srinivas SM, Huang HL, Nelson JS (2000) Deep coagulation of dermal collagen with repetitive Er:YAG laser irradiation. Lasers Surg Med 2:215–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Beltram M, Drnovsek-Olup B (2004) Histological and biomolecular analysis of new collagen synthesis after “smooth” mode Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing. Lasers Surg Med Suppl 16:56

    Google Scholar 

  21. Beltram M, Zivin M, Drnovsek B (2010) Collagen synthesis after laser skin resurfacing of the periocular skin. ZdravVestn 79:I-111–I-116

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dams SD, de Liefde-van Beest M, Nuijs AM, Oomens CW, Baaijens FP (2010) Pulsed heat shocks enhance procollagen type I and procollagen type III expression in human dermal fibroblasts. Skin Res Technol 16(3):354–364

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mantovani M, Rinaldi V, Salamanca F, Torretta S, Carioli D, Gaffuri M, Pignataro L (2015) Should we stop performing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty? Ind J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 67(Suppl 1):161–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Li S, Wu D, Shi H (2015) Reoperation on patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome after failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272(2):407–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Tang JA, Salapatas AM, Bonzelaar LB, Friedman M (2017) Long-term incidence of velopharyngeal insufficiency and other sequelae following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 156(4):606–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sippus J (2015) Case report: NightLase procedure—laser snoring and sleep apnea reduction treatment. J Laser Health Acad. ISSN 1855–1913

  27. Svahnström K (2013) Er:YAG laser treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. J. Laser Health Acad. ISSN No.2:1855–9913

  28. Miracki K, Vizintin Z (2013) Nonsurgical minimally invasive Er:YAG laser snoring treatment. J. Laser Health Acad. ISSN No.1:1855–9913

  29. Lovato A, Kotecha B, Vianello A, Giacomelli L, Staffieri A, Marchese-Ragona R (2015) Nasal and oral snoring endoscopy: novel and promising diagnostic tools in OSAS patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272(7):1793–1799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lee CYS (2015) Evaluation of a non-ablative Er: YAG laser procedure to increase the oropharyngeal airway volume: a pilot study. Dent Oral Craniofac 1(3):56–59

    Google Scholar 

  31. Unver T, Aytugar E, Ozturan O, Kıran T, Ademci E, Usumez A (2016) Histological effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation with snoring handpiece in the rat soft palate. Photomed Laser Surg 34(8):321–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Soares D, Folbe AJ, Yoo G, Badr MS, Rowley JA, Lin HS (2013) Drug-induced sleep endoscopy vs awake Müller’s maneuver in the diagnosis of severe upper airway obstruction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148(1):151–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. De Vito A, Carrasco Llatas M, Vanni A et al (2014) European position paper on drug-induced sedation endoscopy (DISE). Sleep Breath 18:453–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Campanini A, Canzi P, De Vito A, Dallan I, Montevecchi F, Vicini C (2010) Awake versus sleep endoscopy: personal experience in 250 OSAHS patients. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 30:73–77

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Jmarchn 2017 Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mallampati.svg

  36. Winter 2017 Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0), https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mouth#/media/File:Mouth_illustration-Otis_Archives.jpg

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic (DISC), University of Genoa, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Isabelle Fini Storchi, Steven Parker, Stefano Benedicenti & Andrea Amaroli

  2. Department of health science (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Francesca Bovis

Authors
  1. Isabelle Fini Storchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven Parker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francesca Bovis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stefano Benedicenti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andrea Amaroli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Amaroli.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Storchi, I.F., Parker, S., Bovis, F. et al. Outpatient erbium:YAG (2940 nm) laser treatment for snoring: a prospective study on 40 patients. Lasers Med Sci 33, 399–406 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2436-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2436-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation