Two patients, whose previous procedures for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had made no improvement in their symptoms, were successfully treated with revision surgeries of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) performed in our clinic.
The first patient was a 30-year-old male who had his initial UPPP done elsewhere five years ago. This patient underwent a revision of the UPPP and septoplasty this time. The other patient was a 53-year-old male whose UPPP was performed elsewhere 20 years ago by an ENT surgeon. his patient was treated with a revision of the UPPP and a midline glossectomy using a CO2 laser at our institute.
In evaluating these patients, it was determined that a failure to recognize the distance between the soft palate and posterior wall of the pharynx in the initial surgery was the cause of the undesirable result in the first patient, and that the development of a nasopharyngeal stenosis secondary to the adhesion of the soft palate was the etiological factor in the second case. A septal deformity and an abnormal base of the tongue have also contributed to the problems of these patients, respectively. Making an accurate diagnosis cannot be overemphasized in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
