Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of upper airway multi-level surgeries on the swallowing-related quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods The SWAL-QOL questionnaire was given to 68 OSAHS patients before and 6-17 months after surgeries. Depending on whether the tongue base operations were done, the patients were divided into two groups：the multi-level operation group(n=39) and the retropalatal operation group(n=29). The swallowing-related quality of life was evaluated before and after the operations. Results Velopharyngeal insufficiency occurred in 31 patients(45.59％),choking when eating or drinking in 13 (19.1％),eating slower than normal in 14 (20.6％) and double swallows or needing great efforts in 5 (7.35％). The retropalatal operation group had significant differences before and after surgeries in eating duration and symptom frequency dimentions (P<0.01). The multi-level operation group had lower scores in berden（P=0.041）, eating duration（P=0.002）, symptom frequency（P=0.000）,　communication （P=0.007）, mental health （P=0.000）and social interaction（P=0.041） after surgeries than before surgeries. Following the operations, the scores of the multi-level operation group alsowere lower than the retropalatal operation group in berden（P=0.047）, eating duration（P=0.016）, symptom frequency（P=0.016）, communication（P=0.010）, mental health（P=0.047）and social interaction（P=0.047）. Conclusion Upper airway multi-level surgeries have negative effects on the swallowing-related quality of life.

Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive, Quality of life, Swallow, Surgical procedures, operative