Have you ever dreamed you were in a spelling bee back in school? Everyone but you and one other person is out of the competition. And when the judges give you your word, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, you’re stunned. And no amount of practice could have readied you for this one. That’s one hard word to spell (even for an awesome, non-dreaming speller).
Funny enough, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty isn’t a fake word. It actually exists. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP for short) is a surgical procedure to help you deal with that.
When more conservative solutions haven’t really worked out, this surgical approach is sometimes used. Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms can be diminished with UPPP, allowing an individual with this condition to get a better night’s sleep.
What is Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty?
Sleep apnea can have a wide variety of causes. But for many individuals, this sleep disorder is caused by your body’s own tissues. These tissues loosen up, droop, and cause an obstruction of your airways. You stop breathing and start to snore as a consequence of this blockage. In this way, sleep apnea can disrupt your normal sleep schedule.
Sleep apnea can make you feel awful because you don’t sleep deeply through the night, leaving you tired all day. Respiratory disorders, like sleep apnea, should be taken very seriously because they can even result in death in rare cases.
During a UPPP procedure, your surgeon will remove a significant portion of tissue from your throat. When this excess tissue is extracted, the blockage should be cleared. This method was first developed in 1981, and since that time, it’s become an ever more effective solution for a particular set of sleep apnea patients.
Is UPPP suitable for you?
UPPP isn’t the best option for everyone or for all forms of breathing conditions. As a matter of fact, to be a good prospect for UPPP, it’s essential for you to have the correct type of sleep apnea. Further, only people with Stage 1 obstructive sleep apnea will likely be helped by this surgery.
We may want to make certain that you’ve explored all other treatment options. Generally speaking, UPPP could be right for you if:
- You have tried other therapies but found they don’t work for your symptoms. You might first try other treatments including a CPAP machine.
- Your soft palate, nostrils, or other soft tissue near your airways has structural issues.
- Stage one sleep apnea has been diagnosed by your doctor. Individuals with Stage 2 or Stage 3 sleep apnea aren’t good prospects for this procedure.
- You are dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, and this sleep apnea has a negative affect on your general quality of life.
- The desired result hasn’t been achieved by lowering your BMI or losing weight.
It’s crucial for anybody with a sleep-related condition to get the correct treatment. We will be able to look at your symptoms and give you a diagnosis. Then we will develop a treatment plan distinct to your situation.
What happens during a UPPP procedure?
UPPP is a surgical procedure, usually performed under general anesthesia. Before the surgery begins, your surgeon will identify which parts of your airway are creating the biggest obstructions. Why you have so much extra tissue in your throat is something we will have to identify. When it comes to this, everyone is a little different.
Here are a few areas that your surgeon will eliminate some tissue from during your UPPP surgery:
- The ball of tissue hanging down at the back of the mouth, known as the uvula.
- It’s feasible that your surgeon may also eliminate tissue from your tongue. It’s actually a distinct surgery, when you have tissue eliminated from your tongue, called uvulopalatopharyngoglossoplasty (which is also a real tongue twister, uh, no pun intended). If you’re a strong candidate for this surgery, it’s something your surgeon will talk with you about well in advance.
- The soft palate which forms the roof of your mouth towards the back of your mouth.
- Excess tissue from around the throat. This might include your tonsils and adenoids if you still have them.
The incisions will be sutured closed by your surgeon at the end of the surgery. UPPP is typically done on an outpatient basis, but an overnight stay in a hospital is occasionally required. Your local healthcare setting, your overall health, and your surgeon are all variables here. Your surgeon will want to make sure you can swallow normally before you go home.
How do you prepare for your UPPP procedure?
Just like any surgical procedure, you may need to take several steps to get ready for your UPPP appointment. You will most likely talk over these steps with your surgeon long in advance, so nothing should be too surprising.
Your pre-operative instructions may include:
- You will be given instructions to inform your surgeon if you get sick, even with a cold. This may postpone your procedure.
- There may be a short period before surgery that you need to fast.
- A full list of recommended medicines and medications you should steer clear of will be supplied by your doctor.
- You might be asked to take certain medications on the day of your procedure.
- You will also need someone to drive you home from the procedure, especially if you are undergoing your UPPP surgery on an outpatient basis.
- Making certain to quit taking certain medications, particularly over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen (you want to steer clear of any blood thinners not approved by your surgeon).
As you prepare for surgery, be sure to ask your surgeon any questions that they haven’t already answered during this process.
After surgery – post-operative care
The length of your recovery from UPPP surgery will vary, depending on the amount of tissue extracted by your surgeon. In general, however, you can count on at least 2-4 weeks of recovery time.
You should try not to be too idle, but you should also abstain from overly strenuous activity for a couple of weeks. Walking about and doing normal activities will help you prevent blood clotting.
For the first 1-3 weeks, most patients will:
- Experience soreness in your throat. For a few weeks after surgery, this sore throat may linger.
- Be required to use a salt-water-based mouthwash in order to avoid infections.
- Be restricted to soft foods. Immediately after your surgery, you will be restricted to clear liquids, but when you feel ready you’ll be able to move on to soft foods. You’ll likely stay with soft foods until we give you the thumbs up to move forward.
Make sure to ask us any questions you may have about what you should expect while you’re recovering. You will probably have a follow-up appointment with us sometime after 2-3 weeks to determine how you’re healing and what you can expect from your sleep apnea moving forward.
Complications from UPPP
There are some risks and some complications related to UPPP surgery similar to any surgery. Most complications are fairly rare but some are more common than others. Here are a few possible complications:
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Bleeding or swelling of the area that was operated on.
- Scar tissue: Once your surgery is done, scar tissue can accumulate around the incision sites. In some cases, this scar tissue can make you feel like you have something stuck in your throat or that your throat is inflamed. Even though this complication isn’t common, when it does occur, it might require additional surgery to thoroughly clear.
- A condition called “velopharyngeal insufficiency” could cause liquid to travel up into your nose when you drink. And it basically means that the soft palate and throat aren’t coordinating enough when you swallow. Normally, when this complication occurs, it’s not permanent.
- Changes to your voice: Your voice might sound different after your surgery. Consonants that call for the use of the uvula, known as uvula consonants, may become difficult. These consonants (usually written with dots or dashes above them) are prevalent in languages like French, Hebrew, Dutch, and Swedish.
Be certain to talk with your surgeon about all the possible risks from UPPP. Making certain you’re well-informed and answering all of your questions is an essential step that your surgeon will take.
Is UPPP effective?
So here’s the ultimate question, is UPPP surgery effective? And when the procedure is finished, what can people expect? The answer is that for the vast majority of well-qualified patients, UPPP does offer significant and lasting relief from obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
As previously noted, not everybody will be well-qualified for this surgery. For patients that aren’t as very good a fit, the advantages of UPPP might only be effective for a few years.
Once the procedure is complete, you may experience:
- An improved ability to focus throughout the day.
- More restful sleep.
- More energy.
- Less snoring.
- Fewer headaches.
For some people, UPPP will completely eliminate your need to use a CPAP machine. But a CPAP machine may still need some use for some people. Your symptoms will keep being monitored after your surgery.
Are there any other alternatives to surgery?
Surgery is certainly not the only way to manage sleep apnea. For individuals who have tried other therapies with little to no relief, UPPP surgery may be the best solution. The decision is in the hands of the patient and with our assistance, we can figure out your comfort level.
But UPPP surgery is really only an effective strategy for a certain set of symptoms and a specific group of patients.
How to sleep better
Obstructive sleep apnea can interrupt your sleep cycle, making it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep even when you’ve been asleep for over 8 or 9 hours. For individuals with certain forms of sleep apnea, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty can provide a substantial and effective treatment.
You should get in touch with us right away if you’re having a hard time sleeping or if you suspect you might have sleep apnea. Sometimes, treating sleep apnea can be a simple fix. Surgical intervention may be required in other more specialized situations.
The objective is to help you get a good night’s sleep, whether you’re dreaming about spelling bees or not.
Contact us today if you think you may have sleep apnea, we’re here to help!