Who needs UPPP?

Your doctor may suggest UPPP if you:

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Have excess tissue in your nose, mouth, or throat that blocks your airway.
Choose not to use (or cannot use) CPAP.
Do not get better after using CPAP.
Do not want to have an opening made in your windpipe (tracheostomy) to treat sleep apnea.

Why do people get UPPP surgery?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery to open the upper airways by taking out extra tissue in the throat. It may be done alone to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea or snoring or with other procedures to treat moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What structures are removed during UPPP?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most common surgical procedure (see Chapter 90) for patients with sleep apnea. In UPPP the tonsils (if present), uvula, distal margin of the soft palate, and any excessive pharyngeal tissue are removed.

What is the success rate of UPPP and what is current recommendation regarding this procedure as a treatment for OSA?

Often, UPPP is combined with other nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal procedures. The reported success of UPPP as a treatment of OSA is between 16% and 83%, depending on the definition of a positive outcome.

Does UPPP stop snoring?

UPPP is often effective in reducing snoring initially. Over the long term, it cures snoring in 46% to 73% of those who have had this surgery.

How painful is uvula removal?

You may feel some pain in your throat for few days after the procedure. In addition to any pain medication your doctor prescribes, sucking on ice or drinking cool liquids can help soothe your throat. Try to only eat soft foods for the next three to five days to avoid irritating your throat.

Why is UPPP surgery so painful?

It aims to increase the space required for obstruction-free breathing in OSA. You may have stitches in the back of your throat. This part is sensitive; therefore, the surgery may result in relatively more pain after you recover from the anesthesia. You will experience pain while eating and talking.

How successful is UPPP surgery?

Results: The overall success rate of UPPP was 78%. Success rates for mild (90%), moderate (73%), moderate-severe (81%), and severe (74%) diseases were similar (p = . 10).

Does UPPP cure sleep apnea?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) surgery (which removes tissue from the back of your throat) may reduce sleep apnea and snoring for some people. But apnea episodes and snoring may return over time. You may still need CPAP after surgery.

What percentage of OSA patients are helped by UPPP surgery?

Intervention: UPPP was performed in all patients. Results: The overall success rate of UPPP was 78%. Success rates for mild (90%), moderate (73%), moderate-severe (81%), and severe (74%) diseases were similar (p = .

What is the most successful sleep apnea surgery?

Tracheostomy: Tracheostomy is the most effective but also the most radical treatment for sleep apnea. This surgery involves bypassing the upper airway by creating an opening through the neck and trachea.