Surgical treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition in which breathing stops during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times a night. Cardiovascular problems may result. Symptoms include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, poor performance at home or work, moodiness and depression and lack of sexual urge. One form of treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a device that keeps the airway open during sleep which is cumbersome to wear. Most patients who buy the CPAP machine won’t use it.
So what other option left?
Surgery is the only option these patients have which gives fairly good result.
OSA and Snoring
Patients who snore loud can have OSA.Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the momentary collapse of tissues in the throat affecting the upper airway leading from the nose. Often, the exact location and cause of the collapse is difficult to identify. However, if an obstruction to the airway can be identified and conservative treatments have not worked, surgery may be performed. Multiple operations directed at different levels of the airway may be necessary to increase the size and reduce the “floppiness” of the airway.
Surgical procedures
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP ) surgery removes the tonsils, uvula (the fleshy tissue that hangs in the back of the mouth), and a portion of the soft palate at the roof of the mouth. Remaining tissues are pulled up and outward to enlarge the throat. If the location of the throat blockage does not involve other areas, approximately 70% of patients are helped by UPPP by itself..
Side effects of UPPP surgery include a severe sore throat and, in rare cases, nasal speech, difficulty swallowing or regurgitation of liquids in the nose.
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) utilizes a laser to primarily stiffen palate tissues to treat snoring. Less post op pain, no bleeding ,no sutures and early recovery are the plus points.it can be done under Local anesthesia or General Anesthesia. Abolition of OSA in 80% and snoring in 90 % patients are expected.
Nasal surgery may be necessary to repair a deviated septum, remove polyps, shrink nasal tissues (LAPT) or correct other blockages. By itself, nasal surgery does not usually cure sleep apnea, but it may be part of surgical treatment.
Tongue base surgeries, Reconstructive jaw surgery, Hyoid suspension, and Tracheostomy. These are major surgical procedures to be considered in selected patients.