UPPP for habitual snoring: a 5-year follow-up with respiratory sleep recordings

Fifty-six men who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) because of habitual snoring without preoperative obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to respiratory sleep recordings, were interviewed concerning persistent snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Renewed recordings were made in 53 of them at a median time of 63 months postoperatively. Median preoperative oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was 0; the median postoperative index was 1. Median duration of the preoperative obstructive respiratory pattern was 8% of total sleeping time, and the median duration postoperatively was 17%. (Significant individual increases were P = .0005 and P = .004, respectively.) Six patients answered to OSA criteria postoperatively. Weight increases were significantly correlated to increases in both ODI and obstructive respiratory pattern and to persistent snoring. Preoperatively 51 of 56 patients reported EDS, and 73% of the patients were improved or cured. From snoring, 87% reported improvement or cure. No patient had any serious sequelae of UPPP. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is a safe and effective treatment for habitual snoring, but it does not give absolute protection from development of OSA.