Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by repeated pauses in air flow during breathing when the person is asleep. This makes the person wake up slightly many times during the night and gasp for air to resume normal breathing. This breathing disruption occurs due to the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway due to the collapse of the soft tissue at the end of the throat at different times. Depending upon the severity of the patient’s condition, surgical or non-surgical treatment is provided. Non-surgical Option The first step and the most common form of treatment is the use of a nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine which is connected to the nose or to a face mask via tubing. While sleeping, this machine gently increases air pressure, holds the tissues and removes upper airway blocks, thus preventing snoring and OSA. If the problem persists even after this treatment, then surgery would be recommended. Surgical corrections of the condition are possible if the person has
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Moderate to severe OSA
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Irregular daytime sleepiness
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Airway blockade
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Co-existing conditions such as heart arrhythmias, high blood pressure and more
Surgical Options The surgical options for sleep apnea surgery are as follows:
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Tracheostomy - In tracheostomy, the surgeon makes an incision on the lower neck and places a tube through this opening into the trachea to provide an airway. The patient can breathe and speak in a normal way as the tube is capped during the day time.
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Tonsillectomy - This is a common treatment for children affected by breathing disorder. It involves the removal of the adenoids and enlarged tonsils that are responsible for the blockage of air passage.
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Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – One of the most commonly
performed surgeries to treat the condition, UPPP is recommended for patients with extra soft tissue of the palate and uvula. Treatment involves eliminating the obstruction in the upper airway by removing the tonsils and tightening the pharynx walls. This reduces the severity of the condition and reduces snoring.
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Genioglossus Advancement - In this procedure, the muscles of the
tongue base are advanced forward on a small piece of bone attached to the mandible. This opens up the hypopharyngeal airway ensuring smooth breathing. This procedure is usually performed in combination with other surgical procedures.
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Hyoid Myotomy – In this procedure, the airway is enlarged by
advancing the muscles of the tongue base forward, resulting in the tongue base pulling away from the back of the throat. It is often combined with other procedures to enlarge this portion of the airway.
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Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) - This is a highly
effective procedure for treating OSA and a number of medical problems www.hpcsurgery.com
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associated with this disorder. The surgeon cuts the bones of both the lower and upper jaw and advances them forward for the easy passage of air. This enlarges the airway and holds the muscles tightly, which helps in preventing airway collapse.
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Distraction Osteogenesis - Airway obstruction in children can be successfully
treated
with
this
procedure.
This
treatment
is
recommended for children with severe bone abnormalities such as Treacher Collins syndrome, hemifacial microsomia and Pierre Robin sequence. In this procedure, an incision is made in the lower jaw bone and devices are placed over these incisions to gradually stretch the bones. This results in achieving a larger and more anatomically normal bony shape and physical appearance. For success with obstructive sleep apnea treatment, choose an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon in an AAAASF accredited plastic surgery facility.
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