Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty versus laser uvulopalatoplasty: prospective long-term follow-up of self-reported symptoms.

No study to date has prospectively compared the results of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and CO2 laser palatal surgery. This study investigates and compares outcomes in 121 consecutive patients suffering from rhonchopathy, the majority of whom reported apneas. Sixty-one patients underwent UPPP and 60 laser uvulopalatoplasty (LUPP). Patients were requested to assess the frequency of symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome prior to surgery, at 3-month follow-up and 5-8 years postoperatively. All symptoms were significantly improved for the two patient groups, both short and long term (p < 0.01) although short-term results were generally better. However, UPPP was superior to LUPP in terms of all clinical effect parameters. Although patients treated with UPPP had more severe symptoms preoperatively they also had a better long-term outcome. Side-effects such as minor swallowing disturbances were frequent, using either surgical modality, but few patients were bothered if surgery was successful.