Eight years of follow-up--uvulopalatopharyngoplasty combined with midline glossectomy as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

In 22 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was combined with a midline glossectomy of the dorsum of the tongue. The body mass index (BMI) was normal in 13 cases and abnormal in 9. Daytime polysomnography was performed in all cases both preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. In 16 patients another daytime polysomnography was performed after 8.4 years. The patients also answered a questionnaire 11, 33, 43 and 98 months postoperatively. The apnoea index (AI) was reduced in 82% of cases 12 months postoperatively, being reduced by 50% in 59% of cases and normalized in 32%. After 8.4 years a reduction in the AI was found in 75% and a normal AI in 25% of patients. Subjectively speaking, 95% of the patients were satisfied with the operation at the first follow-up, and the figure was 86% at the fourth follow-up; 64% did not suffer from sleep apnoea at the first follow-up as compared with 46% at the latest follow-up. There was an increase in subjective symptoms postoperatively until the third follow-up. After that the symptoms became stable. There were no immediate postoperative complications, and only minor long-term problems. The duration of postoperative care at the hospital was 2 days. No relationship was found between BMI and outcome.