Predictive factors of immediate postoperative complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

This study was performed to assess the relationships between polysomnographic data, including the level of obstruction inducing apnea, and immediate postoperative complications or oxygen saturation in patients who had undergone uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Retrospective study.

Using the data of 90 patients with a polysomnography-confirmed diagnosis of OSAS who had undergone UPPP surgery with/without tonsillectomy under general anesthesia, we determined apnea-hypopnea indices (AHI), preoperative lowest arterial saturation (LSAT-PREOP) levels, percentages of obstruction at the upper level of the uvula during apnea (AL-U), need for an airway in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) or during the first postoperative night in a ward (POPN1), LSAT- PACU, LSAT-POPN1, and the incidence of postoperative bleeding or other complications.

Postoperative complications developed in 19 (21.1%) of the 90 patients, airway-related complications in 5 (5.6%), oxygen desaturation in 8 (8.9%), excessive or recurrent bleeding in 7 (7.8%), and a postoperative electrocardiogram change in 1(1.1%). Patients with postoperative complications had higher AHI (68.1 vs. 49.3, P = .008), lower LSAT-PREOP (71.1 vs. 77.8, P = .012), and lower AL-U (24.2 vs. 57.4, P = .005) than those without. After UPPP surgery, LSAT-POPN1 improved more than LSAT-PREOP (94.4 vs. 76.2%, P = .03), and LSAT-POPN1 correlated with LSAT-PREOP (r = 0.274, P = .014) and AL-U (r = 0.286, P = .046).

This study shows that immediate postoperative complications and oxygen saturation are associated with OSAS severity and the level of obstruction, inducing apnea in those who have undergone UPPP for OSAS.