Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery

Do you snore? Most people deny that they do, but research has shown that one out of every two people snores. However some people have a much bigger problem because they actually stop breathing during their sleep. This is a sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

Those suffering from this condition can actually stop breathing for as long as one minute sometimes and some do this hundreds of times every hour. This can lead to some serious health implications, it increases the risks of heart attacks and strokes by six times when compared to the general population. There is also high blood pressure to worry about.

The most common way to treat this condition is using what is called a CPAP machine. This machine is attached to the nose and the mouth and blows in air to keep the airways open. There are some people who can not tolerate this machine for various reasons, including just being claustrophobic. For others their nose maybe blocked so trying to push air through the nose would just not work. In such cases surgery would be a better option.

If you do have to have surgery the least evasive procedure is what is called the pillar procedure. All it involves is putting implants at the back of the throat to stiffen up the palate instead of ruining any tissue. This procedure tends to be very effective for people who are good candidates for it. It is just like going to the dentist, most of the time you can have it done and return to work or school immediately.

Other options when it comes to surgery include procedures where they actually trying to reposition tissue at the back of the throat. Even an adult who has not had their tonsils out as a child, will have them removed. This type of surgery is more intense so usually you will need about a week off work to recover. There is also nasal surgery which is less intrusive, almost like the pillar procedure.

When it comes to the success rates, because everyone is different it is difficult to determine these. It really depends on an individuals anatomy for example do you have big tonsils, is your palate really droopy and also what degree of sleep apnea you have.