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uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

9.9
A surgery to remove or change throat tissue to help breathing during sleep
  • noun
  • /ˌjuːvələˌpælətəˌfɛrɪŋɡəˈplæsti/
  • Specialized
: uvulopalatofaringoplastia
  • The doctor recommended uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to treat his severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Examples

  • After undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, her snoring was significantly reduced.

  • The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty procedure typically lasts about an hour.

  • Many patients recover quickly from uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and notice improved quality of sleep.

  • Dr. Smith performed a successful uvulopalatopharyngoplasty last week.

  • After undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, her snoring was significantly reduced.

  • The doctor recommended uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to treat his severe obstructive sleep apnea.

  • Many patients recover quickly from uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and notice improved quality of sleep.

Synonyms

UPPP
vsuvulopalatopharyngoplasty
  • Specialized
1 8.9

Surgery to remove extra soft tissue from the back of the mouth to open the airway

also includes the uvula and may reshape tissues rather than only remove them
palatopharyngoplasty
vsuvulopalatopharyngoplasty
  • Specialized
9.9

Surgery that removes extra tissue from the roof of the mouth and throat to open the airway and reduce snoring

also targets the uvula and allows reshaping rather than only removal
PPP
vsuvulopalatopharyngoplasty
  • Specialized
9.9

An operation that removes part of the throat and soft palate to widen the airway and reduce snoring

emphasizes treating the uvula and reshaping tissues rather than only removing them

How Invasive

tracheostomy
  • Specialized
2 9.1
uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
  • Specialized
9.9
tonsillectomy
  • Specialized
2 5.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

uvulopalatopharyngoplasty = pharyngoplasty (semi-transparent) = uvulo + palato + pharyngo + plasty

The word is a highly technical expansion of pharyngoplasty with additional combining forms naming the uvula and palate, so the meaning is compositional but specialized.

Etymology

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty breaks into clear parts: uvulo- from uvula meaning 'little grape', the small bit that hangs at the back of the throat; palato- from palate meaning 'roof of the mouth'; pharyngo- from pharynx meaning 'throat'; and -plasty meaning 'to shape' or 'repair', like in 'plastic surgery' where doctors reshape the body. So, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is a surgery that reshapes or removes parts of the uvula, palate, and throat to help breathing and reduce snoring.