Snoring and Sclerotherapy

The procedure in using sclerotherapy to treat snoring has increased over the years. There is a higher relapse rate compared to other surgery therapies for snoring. The benefit of using sclerotherapy is that it does not cost thousands of dollars, it is not painful and does not require days of bed rest. The injection of sclerotherapy to stop snoring (snoreplasty) is a 15-minute procedure that is usually done under topical anesthesia. This will result in minimal pain and little to no bed rest.

Injection snoreplasty was developed where a sclerotherapy agent, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (Sotradecol), is injected into the submucosal layer of the soft palate to induce scarring and palatal stiffening.  Once this is done, the result is the reduction of elimination of snoring.

A research study was conducted that involved 27 subjects. Of the 27, 25 reported a significant reduction in their snoring and also now significant complications.

It was further reported that 4 of 22 patients that had success from the procedure,  reported a relapse of snoring after a follow-up period of 19 months.

Three of the four subjects underwent repeat injections and they have shown an excellent reduction in snoring.

It should be noted that the success associated with this snoring relief procedure may diminish over time. The reason for this is that the scarred palatal tissue undergoes softening and remodeling.

Injection snoreplasty has generated enormous interest and some controversy among otolaryngologists.

Patients are satisfied with the procedure as it is very simple, cheap and lacks side effects.