WHAT IS THE UVULA? DOES IT CONTRIBUTE TO SNORING/SLEEP APNEA? IF SO, HOW IS IT TREATED?

The uvula, the “punching bag” in the back of your throat, is comprised of a series of intertwined muscles with a mucosal lining. On occasion, an enlarged uvula may contribute to snoring and /or OSA. In these instances the uvula may be surgically resected or removed. Usually, the uvula alone is not a significant enough source of snoring/obstruction that removal of just the uvula will solve the patients’ problem. It is for this reason that uvulectomy is usually performed as an adjunct to other procedures (i.e., Pillar Procedure, tonsillectomy, etc). Patients have noted significant pain after this procedure89.