What is "uvulopalatopharyngoplasty"

n. A surgical procedure used to remove tissue in the throat in order to widen the airway of the patient, typically carried out as treatment for sleep apnea.

n. surgical resection of unnecessary palatal and oropharyngeal tissue to open the airway; intended to cure extreme cases of snoring (with or without sleep apnea) [syn: palatopharyngoplasty, PPP, UPPP]