Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: a comparison of two techniques

Two groups of patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty were studied. Group I patients underwent en bloc resection of tonsils and palate with the line of excision less than 1.5 cm anterior to the uvula-soft palate junction. Group II patients underwent tonsillectomy followed by palatectomy with a margin 1.5 to 2.0 cm anterior to the uvula-soft palate junction. Only 1 of 7 patients in Group I was objectively improved, whereas 11 of 13 patients in Group II improved. We conclude that a generous resection of soft palate and tonsillar tissue is mandatory for success of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty procedures.