Patients' and partners' perceptions of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for snoring

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) has become a routine operation for snoring. Many centres have published their results. Few, if any, have questioned their patient's subjective feelings regarding the operation and more importantly, the patient's partner.

The study involved postal questionnaires and a retrospective case note review. Between the years 1988 and 1995, 125 patients underwent a UPPP for snoring at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England, a large district general hospital. Postal questionnaires were sent to all patients and their partners, asking them about their experience of snoring and of the operation. The subjective postoperative change in the patient's snoring and their day time sleepiness was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Score.

The number of joint questionnaires returned was 90. The number of patients who felt that their snoring had improved after the operation within the first year was 100%, but this fell to 71% after 1 year. There was a significant improvement in the patient's daytime sleepiness after the operation. The list of complications included pain and nasal regurgitation, along with a dry mouth and altered taste. Overall, 78% of patients would recommend the procedure to others.

The operation of UPPP is successful in reducing the severity of snoring noise in the majority of patients, as well as in improving the quality of the patient's sleep. This success, however, decreases with time and must be put in context with the relatively high morbidity.