Modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: The extended uvulopalatal flap.

Objective: To investigate the surgical outcomes of a modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty-extended uvulopalatal flap in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Material And Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea underwent extended uvulopalatal flap that consisted of bilateral tonsillectomy, dissection and removal of submucosal adipose tissue of the soft palate and supratonsillar area; imbrication; and reposition of the denuded uvulopalatal flap. Variables of polysomnography included the respiratory disturbance index, snoring index, and minimal oxygen saturation. Surgical success was defined as achieving the postoperative respiratory disturbance index to less than 20 events per hour and a greater than 50% reduction of the preoperative respiratory disturbance index.

Results: Six months after operation, 27 patients (81.8%) responded successfully. The mean respiratory disturbance index decreased from 41.6 +/- 28.2 to 12.5 +/- 18.1(P <.0001), and the mean minimal oxygen saturation and snoring index improved significantly (P <.0001). The postoperative sequelae were mild with 3% of occasional nasal regurgitation.

Conclusions: The results in this series revealed that extended uvulopalatal flap improves obstructive sleep apnea with minimal adverse effect in selected patients, and this technique suggests a role of fat dissecting in the palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.