Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common condition among adults which may be associated with loud snoring, pauses in breathing or gasping for air at night, sleepiness and unintentional naps during the day, morning headaches, and more issues affecting one’s quality of life. Beyond these symptoms, untreated moderate or severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea is associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and early mortality.

If your doctor suspects Obstructive Sleep Apnea, he or she may order a sleep study, which can often be performed at home, to assess your sleep. If you are found to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, your doctor may prescribe a CPAP or Auto-PAP device to treat your sleep apnea. CPAP is a safe, effective, and predictable treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but up to 40% of patients do not tolerate the CPAP mask and machine.

For patients who do not tolerate CPAP, there may be other surgical or non-surgical options available to adequately treat your Obstructive Sleep Apnea. See one of our ENT specialists for a personalized evaluation of your options for sleeping better. We will discuss non-surgical devices or surgeries which may be appropriate for you.

If you have moderate or severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea and do not tolerate CPAP, you may be a candidate for a sleep surgery. This may include soft tissue surgery, such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasy where the tonsils are removed and the palate is trimmed and tightened to prevent collapsing of the throat tissue at night. Alternatively, you may be a candidate for Inspire therapy, an implant that stimulates the tongue to move forward when you breathe at night. Learn more about Inspire here.