Sleep apnoea surgery. Excised uvula removed during surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This is a condition where airway obstruction and soft tissue collapse causes breathing to be interrupted while sleeping. The uvula, the piece of soft tissue that hangs from the back of the soft palate, can contribute to airway obstruction. The patient also underwent surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) surgery to his upper jaw bone and hard palate to further improve his airflow and treat his condition.