The downside of sleep apnea surgery. Some in the sleep community are adamant that with such low success rates it should not be performed anymore.
But performing this operation is like bypassing only one blocked heart vessel when you have 3 other vessels that are blocked.
Uppp sleep apnea success rate. The success rate increases with increasing tonsil size. Uppp is also offered to sleep apnea patients who opt for a more comprehensive surgical procedure known as the stanford protocol. One of the most common misconceptions about sleep apnea surgery is the relatively low success rate of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty uppp procedure which is often quoted at 40.
Although uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is effective for snoring 76 90 success rate according to the american academy of sleep medicine the efficacy of uppp surgery for sleep apnea is much lower. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty also known by the abbreviations uppp and up3. Due to potential complications involved in this surgery most doctors recommend other treatment measures for sleep apnea particularly c pap.
The surgical success rate is not high with uppp alone approximately 50 when surgical success is defined as both 50 reduction in rdi and or apnea index and a postoperative rdi of less than 20. Surgery on the other hand has about a 25 to 30 success rate. The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty uppp procedure is probably one of the most controversial issues in sleep medicine for sleep apnea treatment.
However the success rate of this surgery is highly variable and depends upon factors such as the patient s bmi and anatomical. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty uppp is currently the most common surgery performed for adults with obstructive sleep apnea in the united states. Obstructive sleep apnea osa is a syndrome characterized by intermittent and repetitive upper airway collapse or narrowing during sleep repetitive closure of the upper airway results in sleep fragmentation hypoxemia hypercapnia and increased sympathetic nervous system activation all of which lead to symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment.
In surgical management of sleep apnea and snoring book the author mentions that surgical uppp success is claimed if your apnea hypopnea index ahi drops by 50 after the surgery. Despite study after study showing limited success rates surgeons continue performing this procedure. What 2 patients wish they had known.
The procedure increases the oropharyngeal airspace by resecting tissue in the throat including one or more of the following. If other treatment measures fail a uppp may be recommended. The uvula soft palate and tonsils.