Uvulopalatoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to reduce or eliminate snoring problem. Snoring is a noisy breathing during sleep. Snoring is a universal problem among all age groups and gender. It affects approximately 45 percent of normal adults. Snoring may occur nightly or intermittently.

During normal breathing, air passes through the throat on its way to the lungs. Air travels past the tongue, soft palate, uvula, and tonsils. The soft palate is the back of the roof of the mouth. The uvula is the prominent anatomic structure dangling downward visibly at the back of the mouth (pharynx).

When a person is awake, the muscles in the back of the throat tighten to hold these structures in place, preventing them from collapsing and/or vibrating in the airway. During sleep, the uvula and soft palate frequently vibrate causing distinctive sounds of snoring. Snoring may also originate from the walls of the throat and further down around the tongue base.

PROCEDURE:

Uvuloplasty is performed under local anaesthesia. It takes 10-20 minutes for the surgery. It deals with the palatal snore that can result from an elongated or widened uvula. Depending on the anatomic findings, excision or modification of the uvula is done to provide the best results. Frequently, uvuloplasty is performed in conjunction with other snoring treatments to provide the best outcome.

Different types of invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures include:

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): It is surgical procedure performed to remove excess tissue from the back of the mouth and the throat. The tonsils and adenoids, if present, may also be removed in this procedure.

This procedure is most commonly performed in patients with sleep apnea and rarely patients with excessive snoring. UPPP increases the width of the airway at the throat’s opening and blocks muscle action to improve the ability of airway to remain open. It also results in the improvement in the movement and closure of the soft palate.

As with the other surgical procedures, even UPPP is associated with few complications such as severe bleeding. Also, the procedure is expensive and the improvement obtained by the surgery is not permanent and lasts only for a few days.

Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP): It is a non-invasive surgical procedure that reduces the size of an enlarged or elongated uvula using laser technology. It is an in-office procedure performed under local anaesthesia which takes approximately 30 minutes. The treatment opens up the airway and provides relief from symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea.

This procedure involves gentle removal of excess tissue surrounding the uvula to reduce its size by using laser technology. This is performed to decrease the size of uvula, loudness of snoring. This results in a larger airway and less chance of a blocked airway during sleep.

GENERAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UVULOPALATOPLASTY:

It may be associated with the following risks:

• Severe post-operative pain for more than two to three days. Pain is mostly seen in LAUP than somnoplasty and snoreplasty.
• Sometimes, it may lead to obstructive sleep apnoea or get worse
• Sore throat for 7 to 10 days.
• LAUP may cause OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) in patients who had only primary snoring before the operation.
• Nasal regurgitation.
• Dehydration commonly reported in tongue suspension procedure
• Permanent change in the quality of the patient's voice.
• Recurrence of primary snoring

POST-OPERATIVE CARE:

Use pain medications prescribed by the physician for throat discomfort, mostly when swallowing. The patient can resume normal work and other activities the same day as the procedure, and speaking is usually not affected.

WHY CHOOSE BSR?

BSR ENT Hospital is one of the renowned ENT Specialist Hospitals in Secunderabad with a high success rate of surgeries and clinical outcomes, since 40 years. BSR ENT Hospital has its own sleep laboratory to address snoring and Sleep Apnoea problems.

The team includes trained and experienced ENT specialists, radiologists, surgeons and lab technicians who are patient-friendly and care about patients.

We strive to provide the best treatment solutions with utmost care and compassion at affordable price.