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Injection stops snoring for 19 months
Click for complete story
Monday, 10 September 2001 23:27 (ET)
Injection stops snoring for 19 months
By ED SUSMAN, UPI Science News
DENVER, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A simple injection in the back of the mouth
stops problem snoring for at least 19 months in about three-fourths of
people who undergo the procedure, researchers reported Monday.
"The snoreplasty procedure is very simple and effective, minimally
painful, and very inexpensive," said Dr. Scott E. Brietzke, an
otolaryngology specialist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda,
Md. The procedure can be performed in a doctor's office.
"All the equipment, including the drug used in this procedure, costs about
$40," Brietzke said during the annual meeting of the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in Denver.
He added, however, after 19 months, the effects of the injection appear to
wear off. "This does not look like a curative treatment for snoring," he
said. "But it does look like a very inexpensive way to control snoring."
Patients are first assessed to make sure they are candidates for
snoreplasty. If they appear to be free of underlying problems that might be
causing snoring, such as being grossly overweight, then they receive an
injection in the soft palate -- an area at the back of the mouth -- of a
tiny amount of sodium tetradecyl sulfate. The irritating substance destroys
tissues, causing scar formation -- known as sclerotherapy -- that induces
stiffening of structures in the back of the mouth. This reduces snoring
associated with flutter of those structures.
Brietzke said there can be some swelling at the injection site, but "in no
way is there any compromise of the airway" which would impede breathing. He
said after several months, the body begins to "remodel" the scar, softening
it and allowing for flutter to recur, making it necessary for repeat
treatments in a minority of patients. He has successfully retreated a few of
the patients whose snoring relapsed.
The drug used is in short supply, Brietzke said, because a major
manufacturer has opted not to produce the substance because it no longer has
patent protection. "But stand by," Brietzke said, "other companies will be
producing it soon."
Numerous procedures, including surgery, radiofrequency procedures, laser
technology, and prostheses have been tried as ways to reduce snoring.
"If there are more than five ways to treat something in medicine, it
usually means that none of them work very well," Dr. Brian Hawkins, a
clinical professor of otolaryngology at the University of Louisville in
Kentucky, told United Press International. "And there are probably at least
25 ways to treat snoring. However, this sclerotherapy treatment does look
very promising."
Brietzke said the relapse rate of about 25 percent within 18 months to two
years is similar to other treatments, but the low cost, high satisfaction
and low inconvenience of sclerotherapy gives it an advantage over other
therapies.
In his study, Brietzke updated an earlier report on sclerotherapy for
snoring. Originally 25 of 27 patients were deemed as having successful
treatment. After 19 months, 20 still reported their snoring was in check. Of
the people who relapsed and sought addition treatment, two of three said
they got good results.
Researchers used a series of tests to evaluate the treatment. One test
found snoring loudness among the patients decreased from 11 decibels prior
to treatment to 2 decibels afterward.
Click for complete story
Monday, 10 September 2001 23:27 (ET)
Injection stops snoring for 19 months
By ED SUSMAN, UPI Science News
DENVER, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A simple injection in the back of the mouth
stops problem snoring for at least 19 months in about three-fourths of
people who undergo the procedure, researchers reported Monday.
"The snoreplasty procedure is very simple and effective, minimally
painful, and very inexpensive," said Dr. Scott E. Brietzke, an
otolaryngology specialist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda,
Md. The procedure can be performed in a doctor's office.
"All the equipment, including the drug used in this procedure, costs about
$40," Brietzke said during the annual meeting of the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in Denver.
He added, however, after 19 months, the effects of the injection appear to
wear off. "This does not look like a curative treatment for snoring," he
said. "But it does look like a very inexpensive way to control snoring."
Patients are first assessed to make sure they are candidates for
snoreplasty. If they appear to be free of underlying problems that might be
causing snoring, such as being grossly overweight, then they receive an
injection in the soft palate -- an area at the back of the mouth -- of a
tiny amount of sodium tetradecyl sulfate. The irritating substance destroys
tissues, causing scar formation -- known as sclerotherapy -- that induces
stiffening of structures in the back of the mouth. This reduces snoring
associated with flutter of those structures.
Brietzke said there can be some swelling at the injection site, but "in no
way is there any compromise of the airway" which would impede breathing. He
said after several months, the body begins to "remodel" the scar, softening
it and allowing for flutter to recur, making it necessary for repeat
treatments in a minority of patients. He has successfully retreated a few of
the patients whose snoring relapsed.
The drug used is in short supply, Brietzke said, because a major
manufacturer has opted not to produce the substance because it no longer has
patent protection. "But stand by," Brietzke said, "other companies will be
producing it soon."
Numerous procedures, including surgery, radiofrequency procedures, laser
technology, and prostheses have been tried as ways to reduce snoring.
"If there are more than five ways to treat something in medicine, it
usually means that none of them work very well," Dr. Brian Hawkins, a
clinical professor of otolaryngology at the University of Louisville in
Kentucky, told United Press International. "And there are probably at least
25 ways to treat snoring. However, this sclerotherapy treatment does look
very promising."
Brietzke said the relapse rate of about 25 percent within 18 months to two
years is similar to other treatments, but the low cost, high satisfaction
and low inconvenience of sclerotherapy gives it an advantage over other
therapies.
In his study, Brietzke updated an earlier report on sclerotherapy for
snoring. Originally 25 of 27 patients were deemed as having successful
treatment. After 19 months, 20 still reported their snoring was in check. Of
the people who relapsed and sought addition treatment, two of three said
they got good results.
Researchers used a series of tests to evaluate the treatment. One test
found snoring loudness among the patients decreased from 11 decibels prior
to treatment to 2 decibels afterward.
