OBJECTIVEExperiences and lessons of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP ) perioperative management, especially causes of postoperative tracheotomy, were analyzed, and related strategy was raised to have a better perioperative management and to avoid tracheotomy.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty eight cases of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndromes (OSAHS) diagnosed with polysomnography (PSG) were treated with modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). The perioperative management was summarized. Patients were divided into two groups according to the perioperative management: without or with perioperative comprehensive management. In group A, there were 32 patients, without comprehensive management, and in group B there were 226 cases with comprehensive management. Sixty eight cases in group B whose apnea hypopnea index over 50 times per hour and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation was less than 0.5 were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for 1 to 3 weeks. For all the 258 cases, perioperative management includes treatment of medical complications, treatment with antibiotics 2 or 3 days before the operation. None of these cases had tracheotomy before surgery.

RESULTSIn group A, three of 32 patients had postoperative tracheotomy, two because of bleeding, and another one because of laryngeal spasm. In group B, none of 226 patients underwent tracheotomy, which owing to modified operative apparatus and effective perioperative and postoperative treatment (chi2 = 21.35, P < 0.001). In group A, 5 of 32 patients had oral pharynx bleeding after 24 hours of the operation. While 26 of 226 patients in group B did so (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONComprehensive perioperative management can effectively lower down the complication rate for patients receiving uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.