Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviations UPPP and UP3) is a surgical procedure or sleep surgery used to remove tissue and/or remodel tissue in the throat. Tissues which may typically be removed include:

Tissues which may typically be remodeled include:

How UPPP is administered

UPPP involves the removal of the tonsils, followed by removal of the anterior surface of the soft palate and uvula, folding of the uvula toward the soft palate and suturing it together as demonstrated in the figures. In the US, UPPP is the most commonly performed procedure for obstructive sleep apnea, with approximately 33,000 procedures per year. The surgery is more successful in patients who are not obese, and there is a limited role in morbidly obese (>40 kg/m2).

Procedural details

Standard UPPP procedure

UPPP is typically administered to patients with obstructive sleep apnea in isolation. It is administered as a stand-alone procedure in the hope that the tissue which obstructs the patient's airway is localized in the back of the throat. The rationale is that, by removing the tissue, the patient's airway will be wider and breathing will become easier.