[Obstructive sleep apnea treated with uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty]

38 patients with sleep apnea syndrome treated with uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty were interviewed 23 +/- 10.8 months after the operation (mean age 48.0 +/- 8.6 years, range 28-65). 22 were also studied in the sleep laboratory 10 +/- 10.7 months after operation. 3 months after operation 94% reported improvement in snoring and 77% improvement in excessive daytime sleepiness. 1 and 2 years after the operation snoring had decreased to 74% and 65%, respectively, and excessive sleepiness to 65%, for both periods. There was a decrease of at least 50% in the number of apneic periods per hour of sleep in 68%. Side-effects consisted of nasal regurgitation and vocal changes. Only age was of predictive value: the younger the patient the better the response.