Modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: resection of the musculus uvulae.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of a modified uvulopalatopharynbgoplasty (UPPP) technique with preservation of the uvula mucosa and partial resection of the musculus uvula.


METHODS
A prospective randomized controlled trial. Sixteen male patients underwent a classic UPPP, and another 16 male patients underwent a modified UPPP. The parameters evaluated were the subjective symptom score, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), and polysomnography results.


RESULTS
Postoperative snoring, apnea, morning headache, daytime sleepiness, pharyngeal foreign body sensation, and global discomfort were not significantly different between the two groups. Among seven subjective measures of sleep quality from the PSQI, the subjective sleep quality was significantly improved in both groups. Postoperatively, the SSS was not significantly changed in both groups; however, the ESS was significantly improved in both groups. The polysomnographic findings showed a statistically significantly improvement in the apnea index and the apnea-hypopnea index.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the modified group did not have more profound improvement in sleep quality and decreased postoperative pharyngeal discomfort, modified UPPP was an effective surgical method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
Shin
Seung-Heon
SH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, South Korea. hsseung@cu.ac.kr
Ye
Mi-Kyung
MK
Kim
Chang-Gyun
CG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*