Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea involves removal of excessive tissue that could be blocking your airway and restricting your breathing. Usually an ENT (Ear, nose throat) surgeon performs such surgeries but an opinion for surgery indication should be sought from a sleep specialist. Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea is indicated as a last resort when other sleep apnea treatment options like CPAP have failed, because however small, surgery always carries an element of risk either general or specific.
Sleep Surgery Options.
Surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea vary from individual to individual and depend on the cause of sleep apnea. The following are the various surgery options for obstructive sleep apnea.
Nasal Surgery for Sleep Apnea.
This is indicated for a cause that is obstructing your nasal passage. It could be a nasal polyp or inflamed turbinates or a deviated nasal septum. Nasal surgery also increases the tolerance to CPAP because a nasal obstruction does increase intolerance to using of CPAP.
Palate Implants for Sleep Apnea.
Palate implant surgery is indicated in patients of mild sleep apnea in whom there is collapse of the soft palate which results in obstruction of the airway. Palate implants stiffen the soft palate and prevent its collapse into the pharynx which forms part of the upper part of the airway. Palate implants also reduce the vibrations of the soft palate helping to stop snoring.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for Sleep Apnea.
This big word simply indicates a surgery in a hospital under general anesthesia, which removes part of the uvula, part of the palate and soft tissue around it, tonsils and adenoids to prevent obstruction of the airway caused by these tissues. This restores normal breathing and stops snoring. For details on the indications and complications of UPPP, you go read indications and complications of UPPP for sleep apnea.
Maxillomandibular Advancement.
As the name suggests, in this surgery, the jaw and the upper teeth are moved forward. This results in the base of the tongue and the palate coming forward and space between them increases giving you a more potent airway.
This surgery is performed by an oral surgeon and a orthodontist. In this surgery, the jaw and the maxilla are cut, moved forward, realigned and plated into place. Success rate of this surgery can be up to 90%. This surgery is suited for thin patients with a small jaw.
Tracheostomy.
Tracheostomy is indicated in life threatening sleep apnea and when other treatments have failed. In this surgery an opening is made in your trachea (windpipe) below the Adam’s apple to bypass the narrowed and obstructed upper airway. A metal or plastic tube is then inserted in to the trachea through which you can breathe. This opening is covered during the day by capping the tracheostomy tube and is opened during the night to ensure proper breathing and prevent sleep apnea attacks when you sleep. Success rate of tracheostomy is almost 100 % in preventing sleep apnea.
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