Abstract: To evalute how the tonsil size affects the efficacy of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) treated with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP). Methods: Sixty cases of OSAHS treated with UPPP in our department were analyzed retrospectively. The clinic curative effect, Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS) and polysomnography(PSG) were examined one year or longer after operation. Results: There was no statistical difference between different tonsil size groups in age, apnea hypopnea index(AHI), body mass index(BMI) and lowest oxygen saturation(LSaO2) before operation. The curative effect was found in 17 cases of smaller tonsils(group A, 28 cases),while in 27 cases of bigger tonsils(group B, 32 cases). There was a statistical difference in curative effect after operation between the two groups(χ2＝4.28， P=0.039). The ESS was obviously reduced in the two groups after operation（t=1.091?2, P=0.279?7）. Among PSG parameters, the AHI, LSaO2 and microarousal index were obviously improved after operation in both groups, but AHI was obviously reduced in group B than in group A(t=2.37,　P=0.021)， the LSaO2 and microarousal index had no statistical differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with bigger tonsil will receive a better clinic curative effect after UPPP and the AHI will be improved obviously.

Key words: obstructive, Sleep apnea hypopnea syndromes, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Tonsi