UPPP/LAUP (Laser-Assisted Uvuloplasty)
Radio Frequency (RF) Uvuloplasty
UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY (UPPP) is an operation to improve
certain sleep disorder symptoms such as obstructive sleep apnea
and snoring. Because there may be several factors occurring at the same
time, this procedure may only give partial relief.
The most common complications include bleeding after surgery, infection,
and temporary airway obstruction due to postoperative swelling. Occasionally
patients with severe obstruction, or added risk due to obesity,
may require a temporary tracheotomy.
The most common complaint is pain on swallowing. Some patients also
have complaints due to an inability of a shortened palate to make contact
with the back of the throat. This may cause some nasal regurgitation and a
hyponasal or hollow-sounding voice. The opposite effect due to narrowing
of the space behind the nose (nasopharynx) is even less likely.
COBLATION UVULOPLASTY is a similar but simpler operation performed
with a cold ablation plasma beam. It is usually an office procedure
carried out under local anesthesia. It is quite effective in the control of
snoring and to a lesser extent, sleep apnea.
The complications are similar to UPPP, however, the risks of obstruction
and tracheotomy are practically nonexistent.
LAUP (LASER-ASSISTED) UVULOPLASTY is an office procedure
similar to coblation uvuloplasty. It offers a similar outcome and carries
similar risks but is performed using a laser beam.
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