Return to Main Menu

Shake, rattle, snore: Gillespie offers cure by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Robert Polk, a local attorney, is not afraid to admit that he had a problem. “I was a snorer. Not your average, just-turn-the-TV-up-a-little-louder-to-drown-me-out snorer, but a full-fledged, rattle-the-windows snorer,” he said.   Polk’s snoring grew worse with age. Constantly waking himself up with his snoring, deep sleep was a luxury others were provided when they laid down to rest.   Enter M. Boyd Gillespie, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and MUSC Sleep Disorders Clinic (East Cooper) director. “I’m pleased to offer the latest treatment for socially disruptive snoring, called the Pillar procedure,” he said. “This is the first surgical device cleared by the FDA to treat both socially disruptive snoring and mild sleep apnea.”   The Pillar procedure has been available for the past year, and Gillespie is the most experienced physician in the Charleston area performing it. An outpatient procedure, implantation of the device in the soft palate of the mouth takes less than 10 minutes. The patient can also resume normal eating and drinking activities the same day.    “The procedure is based on engineering designed to decrease the motion in the soft palate,” Gillespie said. “By stiffening the structure of the soft palate, vibration is eliminated or reduced. It also prevents blockages of the airway.”   The first treatment to reinforce the juncture between the hard and soft palates, the approach involves the insertion of three 18 millimeter woven polyester inserts to reinforce the palate and prevent it from contacting the wall of the throat.   “I had the procedure done on a Monday afternoon and by Wednesday night, no snoring at all,” Polk said. “I know this because my long-suffering wife said so. Unlike other procedures, including laser treatments, this is relatively pain free and more importantly, the data available to date shows it to be a permanent fix.”   “I see patients either downtown at the MUSC campus or at the Mount Pleasant clinic,” Gillespie said. “Unfortunately, insurance still does not cover the procedure at this time, but we offer financial planning, payment plans and a discount for MUSC employees.”   MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees and their immediate family members are eligible for a 20 percent discount on the Pillar procedure, which costs $1,500. For more information about the procedure or to schedule an appointment, call 792-3531 or 792-1414. Polk describes his Pillar experience Essentially, the procedure is as follows: 1. A short questionnaire is filled out regarding your snoring habit. 2. A five minute evaluation of your palate and nasal passages is performed by the doctor. 3. You swallow an antibiotic. 4. A numbing agent is sprayed twice on your palate. 5. You receive two to three shots of anesthesia, also on your palate. 6. The doctor inserts three half-inch long pieces where the soft and hard palates meet and there is no pain at all. 7. Then you go home, and resume eating and drinking as usual.   I had mild throat discomfort for 24 hours and wouldn’t even really call it a sore throat because it was only some mild discomfort when I swallowed. It did not interfere with eating or drinking. I know I was not alone in my long suffering from a snoring affliction so I share this information with everyone in the hope that others can benefit from the treatment as well.     Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.