Acute respiratory complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty E. Karataş, S. Göksu, R. Gül, C. Durucu, T. Bağlam, F. Kara, M. Kanlikama

Turkiye Klinikleri Tıp Bilimleri Dergisi 2008: 28: 867–73

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a common surgery performed in snoring patients with obstructed upper airway. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of immediate postoperative respiratory complications and to assess management in snoring patients undergoing UPPP. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary referral centre. Eighty-nine patients with snoring symptoms undergone UPPP surgery were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups in which 12 patients had respiratory complications and were allocated to Group I, whereas 77 patients without any respiratory complications were allocated to Group II. The groups were compared for age, sex, surgical procedures, body-mass index (BMI) and hospitalization time. Significant differences were found between the two groups on general anesthesia, high BMI and additional surgical procedures (UPPP with tonsillectomy, septoplasty or turbinectomy (p < 0.05) with regard to acute respiratory complications. The management included continued reduced oxygenation (7 patients), emergency tracheostomy (3 patients) and re-intubation and mechanical ventilation (2 patients). Acute airway obstruction after UPPP is positively correlated with additional surgical procedures, high BMI and general anesthesia and they usually occurs within 3 hours of surgery. Conservative management by an experienced anesthesiologist is usually adequate although emergency tracheostomy may be needed.

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