Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Tissue-Sparing Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for OSA: Conservative, Compassionate and Possibly just as Effective
Abstract:
A common surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Unfortunately, traditional UPPP can cause a foreign body sensation, chronic discomfort and in rare cases, nasopharyngeal stenosis or velopharyngeal insufficiency. Modifications to traditional UPPP have been developed over the years to help decrease side effects, while trying to maintain or improve OSA outcomes. Conservative, tissue-sparing UPPP techniques include preservation of soft palate tissues (muscle and/or mucosa), avoidance of plication or conservative plication of the uvula, partial instead of complete uvulectomy, and suture plication of the palatopharyngeus-superior pharyngeal constrictor-palatoglossus muscles with complete preservation of surrounding tissues after tonsillectomy.
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