|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

Side Effects of UPPP

One of the most common and serious sleeping disorders that affects millions of people is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted several times a night, causing him to gasp for air and be stirred from his sleep. While anyone can develop symptoms of sleep apnea, the people who suffer from it most are those who are older and those who are overweight, states the Mayo Clinic. There are several different types of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, but the primary surgical option is called an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).

  1. Overview of Surgery

    • When you undergo an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), a doctor will surgically remove parts of the soft tissue located at the back of your throat. The soft tissue is what collapses on top of your airway as you sleep, causing you to have difficulties breathing at night, says the Mayo Clinic. If you still have your tonsils and adenoids, the surgeon typically will remove those as well. There is a variation of the UPPP, which uses laser surgery to accomplish the same goals, but is generally found to be not as effective as the traditional surgery.

    Short-Term Side Effects

    • As soon as the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is completed, you will need to follow the recovery instructions your doctor gives you. The greatest concern that immediately follows the UPPP is developing an infection. In order to minimize the risk, the University of Maryland recommends that your surgeon give you antibiotics before the surgery to help decrease the odds of catching an infection. You will experience a weakening in your throat, which can be complicated if you consume liquids. Those liquids could potentially flow into the airway in what is called velopharyngeal insufficiency.

    Long-Term Side Effects

    • There are several potential long-term side effects from undergoing an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty that should be considered before having the surgery done. The University of Maryland says that you may experience varying degrees of change in your voice frequency, due to the removal of the tissue from inside of the throat. Another side effect possibility is to either lose or have an altered sense of smell. Finally, according the University of Maryland, the most worrisome long-term side effect is that you still will suffer from consistent or sporadic obstructive sleep apnea. If this is the case, it will be difficult for other treatments to cure the disorder after you have UPPP surgery.

    UPPP Impact on Sleep Apnea

    • According to the University of Maryland, the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty does not have a success rate higher than 65 percent, which deteriorates over the long run. After a prolonged period of time, the long-term success rate drops to roughly 50 percent of all patients. Because of this, many doctors will recommend this surgery mainly if you have malformed or abnormal soft tissue in your throat. If you happen to suffer from severe obstructive sleep apnea, it is probable you will need to continue to use a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) even after the UPPP is performed.

    Alternative Options

    • Undergoing a UPPP is not the only option if you suffer from sleep apnea. The most widely recommended treatment is the CPAP machine, says the Mayo Clinic. This forces your airway to stay open as you sleep, so you will not suffer from sleep apnea when using it. Other options include the Pillar oral implant--tiny rods put into the soft palate of the throat to keep it from collapsing during sleep. Lastly, if your obstructive sleep apnea is caused by being overweight, then losing those excess pounds can greatly improve your sleep apnea symptoms.

Surgeries - Related Articles