UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY FOR SNORING - LONG-TERM RESULTS

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) has become a widely practiced procedu re in the management of snoring. In a number of studies, all based on shortterm follow-up, snoring was reduced or eliminated in 75% to 95% o f patients. Because a decline in the initial success rate was casually observed, a formal analysis of the initial and long-term results of U PPP for snoring was made in the present study. From 1985 to 1989, 69 p atients with severe habitual snoring were retrospectively analyzed. A scoring system was devised for snoring, and each patient was interview ed regarding the effects of UPPP on his or her snoring 16 to 75 (mean 44) months after surgery. In 60 (87%) of 69 patients, snoring was init ially significantly reduced or totally eliminated. After 13 months the success rate dropped to 46% (32 of 69 patients). Most failures occurr ed between 6 and 12 months of surgery, after which time the success ra te remained relatively stable. The authors' conclusion that the long-t erm success rate of UPPP for snoring declines significantly with time has obvious implications regarding presurgical patient counseling.