EFFECTIVENESS OF MUSCULUS PALATOPHARYNGEUS RESECTION IN UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY FOR SNORING

Sixty-eight patients with annoying snoring were included in a prospect ive randomized control study. Thirty-two (group 1) were subjected to c lassical uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) technique; 36 (group 2) unde rwent a modified ''extended UPPP technique'' comprising the bilateral resection of the palatopharyngeal muscles. All patients were free of o bstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) as documented by an overnight p olysomnography. The two groups were homogeneous for age, preoperative and postoperative body mass index, and duration of follow-up. We recor ded the subjective preoperative and postoperative symptoms as evaluate d by the patient and the bed partner, and the immediate postoperative complaints. The only statistically significant difference between the two groups was pain. Thus, in this series, the ''extended UPPP techniq ue'' showed no better results in the surgical approach to snoring, and its morbidity rate is higher.