Causes and treatment of secondary hemorrhage after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

Objective To discuss the causes and preventive methods of secondary hemorrhage after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP).Methods 476 UPPP procedures,performed from August 2002 to December 2010,were reviewed according to the Windfuhr J bleeding classification system.Results 26 patients suffered from postoperative bleeding,including 17 cases of secondary bleeding.We found that grade 1 bleeding occurred in 5 cases(1%),grade 2 in 7 cases(1.47%),grade 3 in 2 cases(0.42%),grade 4 in 3 cases(0.63%) and there was no grade 5 bleeding.The causes of secondary hemorrhage included failed suture in the operation,poorly controlled blood pressure,postoperative cough,and wound infection.All patients were cured with proper treatment.Conclusion According to our findings,it is important to decide surgical hemostatic intervention in time.Preventing secondary postoperative hemorrhage can be achieved by proper measures.