title: Complications of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
abstract: Since the introduction of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UVPP) life-threatening complications have been encountered. In our retrospective review of 101 patients undergoing UVPP the overall incidence of early post-operative complications was 25%. One patient died because of post-operative airway obstruction. The risk of early post-operative breathing difficulty was related to the patient's weight, previous heart disease, and severity of OSAS measured by the percentage of obstructive apnoeic episodes and minimum oxygen saturation during sleep. As late as one year after surgery 57% of patients had some kind of problem in relation to the operation, the most common complaint being nasopharyngeal regurgitation (24%). Despite these late complications over 90% of the patients reported improvement in daytime somnolence and snoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorinolaryngology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haavisto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suonpää
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*