Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that involves breathing problems during sleep, as the throat muscles relax and block the airway. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea often experience loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, insomnia and waking up with a sore throat. This condition can affect anyone, but is most common in older adults.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea after an evaluation of your symptoms. Additional testing may be needed in some cases, which may include:
- Nocturnal polysomnography
- Oximetry
- Portable cardiorespiratory testing
These tests are performed while the patient is asleep to help detect any abnormal behaviors that may lead to sleep apnea.
Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea may include
Surgical removal of tissue – this is performed through uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, a procedure that removes tissue from the throat as well as the tonsils and adenoids.
Jaw correction – the upper and lower parts of the jaw are moved forward during this procedure to create a larger space behind the tongue and soft palate.
Implants – implants are placed during the Pillar procedure, which places three small rods in the soft palate to support the tissue there and prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep.
Surgical opening in the neck – this procedure is for severe cases of sleep apnea and involve inserting a metal or plastic tube through an opening in the neck to assist with breathing during sleep.
Your doctor will decide which procedure is best for you after a thorough evaluation of your condition.
