title: Sleep apnea: morbidity and mortality of surgical treatment.
abstract: We have analyzed the complications in 132 patients who had surgical treatment of sleep apnea or excessive snoring. In this series there were 34 (26%) complications and two patients (1.5%) died. Complications related to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in 126 patients included rhinolalia (2%) and oropharyngeal hemorrhage (6%). In the 41 patients who had tracheostomy, complications included hemorrhage from tracheostomy (5%), tracheomalacia (5%), peristomal infection (15%), tracheostomy tube intolerance (Montgomery tube 100%, Shiley tube 7%), pneumonia (2%), hypoxia necessitating emergency tracheotomy (2%), and other perioperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects