UPPP FOR HABITUAL SNORING - A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP WITH RESPIRATORY SLEEPRECORDINGS

Fifty-six men who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) because o f habitual snoring without preoperative obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to respiratory sleep recording were interviewed concerning persistent snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Renewed rec ordings were made in 53 of them at a median time of 63 months postoper atively, Median preoperative oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was 0; th e median postoperative index was 1. Median duration of the preoperativ e obstructive respiratory pattern was 8% of total sleeping time, and t he median duration postoperatively was 17%. (Significant individual in creases were P=.0005 and P=.004, respectively.) Six patients answered to OSA criteria postoperatively. Weight increases were significantly c orrelated 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 develo pment of OSA.