Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) After UPPP or Uvula Excision Surgery

Image 1 : Normal open position One of the main risks of uvula excision and UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) surgery to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea is velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). This complication is when the soft palate is not able to adequately lift and close off the back of the nose from the throat.  When the VPI is large, food and liquids can come out the nose during swallow and there may be a hyper-nasal speech quality. When the VPI is very small, a patient ma…

6/10/2016 0

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Should Risk of Death Always be Part of the Surgical Consent?

Ever since reports of alleged medical negligence came up in the case of 13 years old Jahi McMath who suffered cardiac arrest and subsequent brain death after a "routine" tonsillectomy that occurred Dec 9, 2013, the question has come up whether risk of death should become part of every single surgical procedure's informed consent no matter how rare that risk might be. It also brings up the question whether patients would want to hear every single possible conceivable risk that m…

1/09/2014 0

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Sleep Apnea Surgery Malpractice Lawsuit

In November 2009, a patient underwent multi-level surgery to treat her mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea by a Houston, TX otolaryngologist. The surgery included: • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) • Tonsillectomy (typically considered part of UPPP) • Adenoidectomy • Hyoid Myotomy • Genioglossus Advancement She unfortunately experienced some unspecified complications stemming from this surgery which apparently has not helped with her obstructive sleep apnea either. A malpractic…

1/24/2012 2

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The Doctors TV Show Does Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Doctors TV show at some point in the past (not sure when), did a segment on surgery used to treat obstructive sleep apnea . The surgery portrayed was UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty). Dr. Brian Weeks, the featured otolaryngologist, removed the tonsils and uvula followed by suturing the cut mucosa to reposition the soft tissues of the patient's throat. This operation is a basic surgical method addressing obstructive sleep apnea . However, prior to considering surgical treatment…

2/01/2011 0

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New Video on UPPP Surgery to Treat Sleep Apnea (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty)

A new video has been created and uploaded onto our YouTube channel showing how a UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) sleep apnea surgery is performed. This surgery is commonly performed to try and improve or even cure obstructive sleep apnea  in adults. This surgery rarely is performed in kids. Read more about UPPP here . More info about obstructive sleep apnea can be found here . Another operation used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults along with UPPP is base of tongue reduction…

2/01/2011 0

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Mucus in Back of Nose/Throat After UPPP or Uvula Removal

I have recently seen a rash of patients who have a presenting symptom of a sense of mucus or phlegm buildup in the back of the mouth/nose right behind the soft palate after surgery involving uvula removal . Such surgery may include the uvula alone or UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) for obstructive sleep apnea . Often in these cases, this problem with mucus and phlegm is due to a very small velopharyngeal insufficiency . This is a rare problem where there is a small opening between the pal…

3/23/2010 0

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