Sleep Apnea Surgery

Recommended For Sleep Apnea Surgery

Candidates for sleep apnea surgery are people who didn’t respond to other sleep apnea treatment options or their condition is severe enough that even CPAP machine brings moderate effects to say at best.

Still, in most of the cases, using CPAP machine for sleep apnea is a standard practice. CPAP machine continuously provides compressed air in order to open the way for air to pass smoothly through the patient’s nose. Sleeping with CPAP mask may initially seem a little uncomfortable but it is possible to get used to it.

Only if CPAP machine and other sleep apnea treatment options do not bring expected sleep apnea relief, doctors decide for various types of sleep apnea surgery.

Overview

Sleep apnea is one of sleep disorders which affects a constantly growing number of patients. There are two major types of sleep apnea:

• Central Sleep Apnea – in central sleep apnea, the muscles responsible for breathing stop working for short periods of time due to the brain not sending signals to them.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – obstructive sleep apnea (or shortly OSA) is a situation in which one’s nose becomes periodically blocked due to excess of soft tissues inside one’s throat and nose or due to overt relaxation of muscles in this area. Obstructive sleep apnea is usually related to as simply ‘sleep apnea’.

Central sleep apnea cannot currently be treated with any invasive treatment such as surgery. As for OSA, there are many sleep apnea treatment options available, of which sleep apnea surgery is usually used as the last resort when other methods do not bring sleep apnea relief.

Sleep Apnea Causes

To most common sleep apnea causes belong overweight and obesity. People with those medical conditions are at high risk of sleep apnea. Additionally, alcohol overuse and smoking are often counted as sleep apnea causes.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

When it comes to signs of sleep apnea, the most obvious is snoring. However, not every snoring person has sleep apnea. More specific sleep apnea symptoms such as long pauses in breath are often spotted by spouses and family of people suffering from obstructive apnea.

Preparation

Under a collective name of sleep apnea surgery are hidden numerous sleep apnea surgery options. For this reason, it is not possible to give a standardised preparation scheme. However, we can say that it is crucial for patients to provide an account of past and present medical conditions as well as a list of medicines taken. In this way, doctors can avoid some of the more obvious sleep apnea surgery risks. Additionally, patients who are to undergo a surgery for sleep apnea may be asked to fast for some hours before this surgery.

How It Is Performed

Among sleep apnea surgery options we can list:

• UPPP (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) – this type of sleep apnea surgery can involve trimming of soft palate and removal of tonsils and uvula.

• Hyoid Suspension – surgery for sleep apnea involving reshaping the hyoid bone.

• Tongue Advancement – one of the tongue muscles is moved forward in this sleep apnea surgery

• Lower Jaw Advancement – in this sleep apnea treatment, the lower jaw is advanced in order to clear the way for air to pass through your throat without obstructions.

All those sleep apnea surgery options are different and require a different set of skills and a lot of experience from the doctor. For this reason, it is important to choose carefully who will conduct your sleep apnea surgery.

Recovery

Recovery period for different sleep apnea treatment options varies greatly. Some types of sleep apnea surgery require a week-long recovery, while recovering from others may take several weeks. Similarly, the amount of pain experienced by patients after the surgery may be different. Doctors performing your sleep apnea surgery will thoroughly inform you regarding the post-op care and medicines you need to take.

Risks

To sleep apnea surgery risks may belong:

• Infections

• Bleeding

• Swallowing problems

• Regurgitation of fluids through nose and mouth

• Impaired ability to keep fluids away from one’s air track

However, those sleep apnea surgery risks are rather rare and possible to avoid and if they occur – to be treated by your specialists.

Side Effects

One of possible sleep apnea surgery side effects is a loss of sense of smell. Additionally, some count recurrence of sleep apnea and less effective sleep apnea treatment with CPAP mask, to be one of the sleep apnea surgery side effects.

Success Rates

Sleep apnea surgery success rate depends not only on skills and experience of one’s doctors but also on the severity of OAS. Patients with moderate sleep apnea enjoy a 75% sleep apnea surgery success rate while severe cases of obstructive apnea have a 40% sleep apnea surgery success rate.

Faq

What Is a Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea (or OAS – obstructive apnea) is one of sleep disorders in which patients lose breath while sleeping for longer periods of time.

What Are the Sleep Apnea Treatment Options?

Treatment of sleep apnea may be conducted without a sleep apnea surgery. Many doctors offer medicines and CPAP machine as the first attempt to bring sleep apnea relief. Surgery for sleep apnea is considered the last resort in the fight with sleep disorders.

What Is the Difference Between Obstructive Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive apnea is caused by closing the ways through which air enters one’s body – nose and throat. Central apnea is connected with lack of proper signals between the brain and one’s muscles.