Research Information System
Anatolian Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol.3, no.4, pp.227-230, 2009 (Scopus)
To asses the subjective and objective Postoperative Pain After Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty, we evaluated twenty-six patients underwent Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) postoperative pharyngeal pain (as measured by a 5-point visual analogue scale)for throughout fourteen days. İn postoperative period we observed pain as an important morbidity which affect patients comfort. In this survey 3 patients (%11.5) had no pain; 12 patients (%46) complained mild degree pain ; 11 patients (%42) complained unbeareble pain. We detected the mean starting time for pain as postoperative 0.56±0.7 day, peak time as 2.84±0.7 days, disappearence time as 7.44±1.41 days. The most intensive pains were reported on the 5th and 6th days. The pain is formed by thermal effect of laser on the tissues. We believe that, giving enough information to the patientsin the preoperative period about the possible expected pain and using poverfull analgesics, especially codein and other opioids during the first 7 postoperative days will be very helpfull in the management of pain. Also during the operation by applying the right techniques with less laser usage and by preventing carbonisation, we can prevent the postoperative pain. It is obvious that we should develop new techniques with less pain in such an operation that is very effective in the treatment of sleep apnea.