The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty operation: the Edinburgh experience

The experience of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty operation, performed on 24 patients for the relief of loud or heroic snoring, is presented. The operation successfully reduced the severity of snoring in 96% of patients. Postoperative complications were uncommon but included nasal regurgitation and intrapharyngeal adhesions in one patient. The role of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty operation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea is undecided but the authors do not perform this operation on such patients.