Cetinkaya Erdem Atalay, Turker Mustafa, Kiraz Kemal, Gulkesen Hakan Kemal
ENT Department, Antalya Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2016;78(2):70-6. doi: 10.1159/000443510. Epub 2016 Mar 12.
Snoring occurs as a result of soft tissue vibration caused by a partial upper airway collapse during sleep. This study evaluated the effectiveness and potential adverse side effects associated with the use of a nonsurgical, erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser treatment for patients with snoring conditions.
In total, 33 patients with different degrees of snoring were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received three NightLase™ Er:YAG laser treatments. Results were measured using a follow-up questionnaire and then statistically analyzed. Any effects that occurred during the first year after treatment (i.e., short-term effects) were followed up with interviews.
Laser treatment effectively reduced patients' snoring and achieved a 65% satisfaction rate after three treatments. The greatest improvement and satisfaction were experienced by patients aged ≥50 years. Patients reported additional benefits from this treatment including easier breathing, higher alertness, and increased focus.
Nonsurgical Er:YAG laser treatment is an effective and minimally invasive procedure to reduce patient snoring and other sleep-disordered breathing symptoms. Patients reported minimal disadvantages including minor discomfort and a low risk of side effects.
打鼾是睡眠期间上呼吸道部分塌陷导致软组织振动所致。本研究评估了非手术掺铒钇铝石榴石（Er:YAG）激光治疗对打鼾患者的有效性及潜在不良副作用。
共对33例不同程度打鼾患者进行回顾性分析。所有患者均接受三次NightLase™ Er:YAG激光治疗。通过随访问卷测量结果并进行统计学分析。对治疗后第一年出现的任何效果（即短期效果）进行访谈随访。
激光治疗有效减轻了患者的打鼾症状，三次治疗后满意度达65%。年龄≥50岁的患者改善最为明显且满意度最高。患者报告称该治疗还有其他益处，包括呼吸更顺畅、警觉性更高和注意力更集中。
非手术Er:YAG激光治疗是一种有效且微创的减少患者打鼾及其他睡眠呼吸紊乱症状的方法。患者报告的缺点极少，包括轻微不适和低副作用风险。
