The benefits and risks of UPPP surgery for sleep apnea

By Michael Larkin


The most common surgery for sleep apnea is call Uvulopalatpharngoplasty or UPPP. This surgery for sleep apnea can get rid of sleep apnea for many cases, but it's not a guarantee and can be risky.

Simply put, UPPP is the removal of tissue from the throat and mouth to help open up the airway passage. The removal of excess tissues helps with the blockage of the airway which causes OSA and snoring.

Some of the reason to have UPPP surgery for obstructive sleep apnea done are you cannot get use to the CPAP or the CPAP doesn't work for you. The CPAP and UPPP are not the only sleep apnea treatment options out there, but they are two of the most common.

What are some of the tissues removed during UPPP surgery? The uvula, a section of the soft palate, the tonsils, adenoids and other tissues of the throat may all be removed.

If an enlarged tongue is causing major blockage of the airway there is a different surgery that needs to be done. This surgery is called uvulopalatopharyngoglossoplasty and it removes a small part of the tongue.

There are a few risky side effects associate with UPPP. Some of these side effects are speech problems; nasal sound from the voice; bleeding; swelling; infection; may not treat obstructive sleep apnea afterwards; may still need a CPAP for assisted breathing; prolonged pain medication usage; residual pain and complications during surgery.

UPPP surgery can have mixed results depending on the person. In some cases it works completely and others it doesn't. Some of the complications that can come with this surgery may actually make sleep apnea worse.

UPPP surgery may correct snoring issues, but may not treat sleep apnea. This can cause an issue because sleep apnea's biggest warning sign is snoring. If you are no longer snoring it can mask the fact you still have obstructive sleep apnea. This can cause major health issues associated with sleep apnea because it is still not treated even though you may think so. Have someone monitor sleep after the surgery has been done to be safe.

UPPP surgery for obstructive sleep apnea can be a successful option and may not always be bad. Every surgery can be a risk and have major side effects. It is important to consult with a sleep doctor to make sure this option is ideal for you. There are several other safe treatments of OSA and snoring. This surgery is not for everyone. It has a lot of upside if successful and has some side effects if it is not.




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