UPPP Surgery for Sleep Apnea.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty - This big word simply indicates a surgery for sleep apnea performed in a hospital under general anesthesia, which removes tissues in the mouth and throat that could be blocking your airway and thereby restricting your breathing.

UPPP Surgery Procedure.

This surgery is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia and involves removal of part of the uvula, part of the palate and soft tissue around it, tonsils and adenoids to prevent obstruction of the airway caused by these tissues. This restores normal breathing and stops snoring. UPPP is also referred to as a snoring operation or snoring surgery in layman’s term.

UPPP Recovery.

However, effectiveness of this surgery is still in question and this surgery is not always successful especially if there are other tissues lower down the throat which could be obstructing your airway passage. You could therefore still require to use CPAP after this surgery. UPPP is successful only in 50% of the cases in preventing sleep apnea.

In children, usually UPPP is not required. Only  removal of tonsils and the adenoids solves the problem.

Indications.

UPPP is usually indicated when these tissues obstruct your breathing and when CPAP has not worked or you refuse to use it because of discomfort and when you refuse to undergo a tracheostomy (opening made in your windpipe).

Complications.

Complications include

• narrowing of the airway due to scarring due to the surgery,
• apnea and daytime sleepiness if you take pain killers or sleeping pills,
• swelling, pain or infection at the site of operation,
• you may acquire a nasal quality in your voice.
• Velopalatal insufficiency wherein the liquids that you swallow may enter the nose. The palate in normal cases prevents this and if too much of it is resected, this complication can arise.

LAUP for Sleep Apnea.

Nowadays laser assisted Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP) is also being done to reduce snoring. In this surgery, less tissue is removed as compared to UPPP and this surgery can also be performed in the physician’s office. However success rate is less than 50% and there is not enough evidence to show that LAUP controls apnea at all.

Related posts:

1. Surgery Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
2. Apnea and Sleep Apnea – A Dangerous Sleep Disorder.
3. Effects and Complications of Sleep Apnea.
4. How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed.
5. Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Signs.
6. CPAP Machine for Sleep Apnea.
7. Sleep Apnea Treatment and Cure.
8. How Do You Get Sleep Apnea.