OBJECTIVETo study the safety measures during perioperative period in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), to minimize uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) major complications.

METHODSThe complications and other relative information of 1446 OSAHS patients treated with UPPP were analyzed. Complications of 1004 OSAHS patients adopted standardized management measures after 2004 and 442 OSAHS patients who performed UPPP before 2003 were compared.

RESULTSAmong the 1446 cases of OSAHS surgery, there were 49 cases (3.39%) of difficult intubation; 8 cases (0.55%) intraoperative mild arrhythmia; 13 cases (0.90%) of surgery dangerous situations after extubation; 19 cases (1.31%) of intraoperative primary hemorrhage; 11 cases (0.76%) of mild arrhythmia during the postoperative observation period; 21 cases (1.45%) of uncontrolled hypertension immediately after surgery; 32 cases of secondary hemorrhage a week after surgery. All complications were cured and no death occurred. Compared with those operations before 2003, complications were significantly reduced with enforcement of standardized management of perioperative measures since 2004. The data had significant difference by chi(2) test (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are five key points during the perioperative period of OSAHS surgery: preoperative examination, intubation, surgery, postoperative extubation, and postoperative care. Risk factors and complications could be prevented effectively in the above five important processes.