Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: The Solution



Obstructive sleep apnea, which is literally the stoppage of breaths during sleep, happens when there is an obstruction in the airway. Although the breath pauses normally last for 10 to 30 seconds, they happen on average 30 times an hour. The effects obstructive sleep apnea has on health put people in great danger. This is why necessary treatments, including sleep apnea surgery, have been designed to correct the obstructions in the airway, which involve the jaws, tonsils, soft palate, and tongue.

Surgical operations are normally done to treat severe sleep apnea, although a few are developed for mild to moderate cases. The severity of the case, however, dictates the degree of the invasiveness of the surgical procedure. The more severe sleep apnea is, the more invasive the surgery is.

The cause of sleep apnea is a major consideration in determining which surgery to perform. Yet, the personal preference and medical condition of the patient are also factors. Though some surgeries can stand alone as a treatment, a few are best combined with other surgical procedures in a series of treatment.

Following are only some of the sleep apnea surgical options from which surgeons, upon diagnosis and careful study of the patient’s condition, choose the most appropriate and effective.

1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
Aimed at widening and keeping the air passage open, UPPP removes the tissue from the back of the throat that might be the cause of airway obstruction. It can be some parts of the soft palate, throat tissue, tonsils and adenoids, and uvula (the soft tissue that hangs from the back of the mouth). UPPP is considered helpful in eliminating snoring, although sleep apnea may still occur after the surgical procedure. In this case, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is necessary. UPPP is normally recommended to people with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Patients need several weeks to recover.

2. Tracheostomy
This procedure involves making a hole in the neck to the windpipe (trachea) and inserting a tube in the opening. The tube then makes way for the free flowing of air when the patient is asleep. At daytime, the tube is closed using a valve to allow the patient to breathe and speak normally. The effectiveness of the procedure is remarkable, although it can present medical problems and emotional issues that normally involve self-image. Because of the associated risks, tracheostomy is only performed to treat severe sleep apnea or if it is the only appropriate surgery for the patient.

3. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
These procedures are performed if there is an enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are usually the first-line of treatment among children since enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the usual causes of their sleep apnea. These procedures are also effective among adults.

4. Maxillary or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA)
In this sleep apnea surgery, the surgeon repositions the upper or lower jawbone forward. Based on the diagnosis, some surgeons choose MMA as an auxiliary or phase II operation for patients with persistent sleep apnea. In other instances, MMA is performed as the main and sole surgical operation. This is if the patient has certain medical conditions that may not benefit from multiple surgeries or if he personally chooses to undergo a single operation. Though it can significantly change the facial structure, MMA is a consistently effective treatment.




Comments

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


Articles

Sleep Apnea In Children: The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments
What You Must Know About Sleep Apnea
Treatment For Sleep Apnea
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Symptoms And Manifestations Of Sleep Apnea
Breathing Devices As Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Causes Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Dealing With Sleep Apnea
Brief Overview About Sleep Apnea
Risk Factors And Causes Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Key Points About Sleep Apnea
Ways To Handle Sleep Apnea Conditions
What Are The Sleep Apnea Tests?
Diagnosis Of Sleep Apnea
What Sleep Apnea Is
Lifestyle Changes For Treatment Of Sleep Apnea
Coping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Device Options
The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: The Solution
Bits Of Information About Sleep Apnea
Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments
Sleep Apnea And People Who Are At Risk





Articles


Risk Factors And Causes Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea It is during sleep that people are supposedly having the most..


Ways To Handle Sleep Apnea Conditions If you have no trouble sleeping, you must consider yourself lucky. It..


Sleep Apnea Device Options If not properly addressed, sleep apnea may result in serious..


Sleep Apnea In Children: The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments Although sleep apnea mostly affects the older population,..



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
Graymark Healthcare Continues to Advance Strategy to Become Nation's Top Sleep ... - PR Newswire (press release)

    

Shift Work Disorder News

Graymark Healthcare Continues to Advance Strategy to Become Nation's Top Sleep ...
PR Newswire (press release)
"Once diagnosed with sleep apnea, treatment has resulted in almost miraculous changes in many patients' lives. One cannot underestimate the value and ...
Graymark Healthcare adds two sleep centersNewsOK.com

all 19 news articles »



Lake City hospital installs lab to test for sleep disorders - South Carolina Now

    

Lake City hospital installs lab to test for sleep disorders
South Carolina Now
In sleep apnea, each episode — called an apnea — can occur hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. An episode is followed by ...
Sleep center relocatesMartinsburg Journal

all 2 news articles »