Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. One-year followup.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), originally evaluated in 66 patients with objectively documented sleep apnea syndrome, was successful in 33 of the patients as indicated by clinical and polysomnographic improvements. One-year followup polysomnographic evaluations were obtained in 20 of these patients; the remaining 13 were lost to followup. After one year, the patients maintained the improvements seen at the six-week evaluation. Frequency and duration of apnea was significantly reduced from presurgery levels and similar to the six-week results. Oxygenation measures also did not differ from the six-week results, remaining better than presurgery values. Thus, respiration did not disrupt sleep to the degree it had before surgery. Sleep measures were improved compared to presurgery and similar to the six-week data. Body weight remained stable over the entire period.