The surgical treatment of snoring: a patient's perspective.

An increasing number of loud snorers seek medical attention because of the social impact of snoring as well as its association with sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is reported to reduce or eliminate snoring in the majority of patients; however, little data are available to document the procedure's success. From February 1987 through August 1988, 125 patients underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for habitual snoring; many of these patients had also documented sleep apnea. Of the 74 patients who responded to a postoperative questionnaire, 64 (86.48%) indicated that their snoring was either completely eliminated or markedly reduced. Only two patients reported significant side effects.