[Necessity of preservation of uvulain uvulopaloto-pharyngoplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the necessity and feasibility of the modified uvulopalotopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with uvula reserved completely, and to improve the traditional UPPP.

METHODS

Sixty patients with the obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (59 men, 1 women) were diagnosed by polysomnography. The patients were operated under general anesthesia and the uvula was preserved completely in UPPP. Cut the fat from the velopharyngeal space so as to enlarge the the oropharyngeal cavitity.

RESULTS

Most of patients reported improvement of main symptoms. The sleeping patients' oxygen saturation was determined 8 days after operation, the oxygen saturation of the patients lying on the side is 90% or even more, and 87% or even more for the ones lying on the back. The judging criterion is that the AHI(apnea-hypopnea index) decrease to 50% of its original level, the validity ratio is 83% 6 months after operation. 2 weeks after operation, the completely preserved uvula began to contract. 3 months after operation, the uvula contracted to the normal length and the anatomical shape of the pharyngeal cavity became normal. This approach avoids velopalatal insufficiency.

CONCLUSION

Completely preserving the uvula in the UPPP is feasible and imperative.