Comparison of laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to electrocautery-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: a clinical and pathologic correlation in an animal model.

OBJECTIVE To determine if there are any pathologic or technical differences between laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP) and electrocautery-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (EAUP). DESIGN A prospective randomized in vivo trial in an appropriate animal species. RESULTS We found no gross difference in healing between the palates treated with laser and those treated with high-frequency electrocautery. However, there was consistently more thermal damage noted histologically in the hemipalates treated with LAUP. On the other hand, EAUP was faster to perform, more hemostatic, associated with less char formation, and had less histologic evidence of thermal damage. CONCLUSIONS These results raise the possibility that the beneficial effects of LAUP over traditional uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) may be as a consequence of staging rather than the particular treatment modality used.