Surgery to Correct Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery. Although several
surgical procedures for sleep apnea treatment are used to increase the size of the airway,
none of them is completely successful or without risks. More than
one procedure may need to be tried before the patient realizes
any benefits.
Some of the more common procedures for obstructive sleep apnea treatment include removal of adenoids
and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps or other growths,
or other tissue in the airway and correction of structural deformities.
Younger patients seem to benefit from these surgical procedures
more than older patients.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used for sleep apnea treatments to
remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula,
and part of the soft palate). The success of this technique may
range from 30 to 60 percent. The long-term side effects and benefits
are not known, and it is difficult to predict which patients will
do well with this procedure.
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is done to eliminate
snoring but has not been shown to be effective in sleep apnea treatment
This procedure involves using a laser device to eliminate
tissue in the back of the throat. Like UPPP, LAUP may decrease
or eliminate snoring but not eliminate sleep apnea itself. Elimination
of snoring, the primary symptom of sleep apnea, without influencing
the condition may carry the risk of delaying the diagnosis and
possible treatment of sleep apnea in patients who elect to have
LAUP. To identify possible underlying obstructive sleep apnea, sleep studies
are usually required before LAUP is performed.
Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses radiowaves in sleep apnea treatment to reduce the
size of some airway structures such as the uvula and the back
of the tongue. This technique is being investigated as a treatment
for apnea.
Tracheostomy is a sleep apnea treatment a used in persons with severe, life-threatening
sleep apnea. In this procedure, a small hole is made in the windpipe
and a tube is inserted into the opening. This tube stays closed
during waking hours, and the person breathes and speaks normally.
It is opened for sleep so that air flows directly into the lungs,
bypassing any upper airway obstruction. Although this procedure
is highly effective, it is an extreme measure that is rarely used.
Other procedure for Apnea Treatments: Patients in whom sleep apnea is due
to deformities of the lower jaw may benefit from surgical reconstruction.
Finally, surgical proced-ures to treat obesity are sometimes recommended
for obstructive sleep apnea patients who are morbidly obese.
Non-specific Sleep Apnea Treatment
Behavioral
changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild
cases behavioral sleep apnea treatment therapy may be all that is needed. Overweight persons
can benefit from losing weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can
reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. Individuals
with apnea should avoid the use of alcohol and sleeping pills, which
make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong
the apneic periods. In some patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea, breathing
pauses occur only when they sleep on their backs. In such cases,
using pillows and other devices that help them sleep in a side position
may be helpful.
