Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and uvulopalatal flap for the treatment of snoring: technique to avoid complications.

OBJECTIVE

To review the outcome of 50 snoring patients treated with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and uvulopalatal flap, looking for a decrease in the surgical complications rate.

DESIGN

A longitudinal, prospective, self-controlled pilot study.

SETTING

Sleep Disorders Clinic of the National University of Mexico and Angeles Lomas Hospital.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Fifty consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment for snoring. The Müller manoeuvre was performed in all of them to determine the site of obstruction. In all cases, the bed partner was asked about the presence of snoring before and 6 months after the procedure. Polysomnography was performed before and after the surgery to assess sleep apnea in all patients and to determine the success regarding the snoring index. Every complication was registered.

RESULTS

All patients had only habitual snoring, without sleep apnea. Thirty-eight males and 12 females were included in the study. At the sixth postoperative month, the bed partner of 48 patients (96%) reported that snoring was gone, 2 (4%) said that snoring was no longer a problem, the initial snoring index mean was 214, and 6 months after the procedure it decreased to 12. No patients had any complication related to the surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the fact that there are a number of techniques for snoring and sleep apnea, we achieved good postoperative results while avoiding the most common complications.