Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) combined with sub-mucous resection of the nasal septum or inferior turbinate for patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods: All the patients were diagnosed by polysomonography and treated by UPPP. At the same time, sub-mucous resection of the nasal septum was performed on 18 patients, submucous resection of the bilateral turbinate on 20 patients, and adenoidectomy on 2 patients. All of the nasal surgeries were performed by an endoscope. Prophylactic tracheotomy was performed on 5 severe cases. In another 2 cases tracheotomy were performed about 6-7 days before. All the patients were followed up for 1 to 2 years. Results: Symptoms of all the patients were alleviated to some degree: disappeared in 5 patients, reduced in 14 patients, alleviated in 6 patients. No complications occurred. Patients on whom tracheotomies were performed were decannulated in 6-13 days postoperatively. Conclusion: For OSAHS patients, UPPP combined with sub-mucous resection of nasal septum or inferior turbinate could give a better result. For severe OSAHS patients, prophylactic tracheotomy could avoid surgical complications.

Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive, Surgical procedures, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Submucous resection of nasal septum, Submucous resection of inferior turbinate