Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in a child with obstructive sleep apnea: a case report

Uvulopalotopharyngoplasty (UPPP) has been recently popularized for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). All reported cases so far have been adults and the use of this procedure in the pediatric age group has not as yet been reported. Obstructive sleep apnea in children has been classically treated previously either medically or by adeno-tonsillectomy. The case of a three year old child with obstructive sleep apnea secondary to a large uvula and a redundant soft palate is reported. The child was successfully treated by UPPP, and remained free of symptoms for a follow-up period of one year.