Surgical Treatments for
Sleep Apnea

Today, there are several surgeries available to help wit hextrem cases of sleep apnea and are tailored to each patient's surgical needs. However, long-term success rates are low, so that most doctors continue to favor CPAP.These surgical treatments include.

• Nasal surgery, including turbinectomy (removal or reduction of a nasal turbinate ), or straightening of the nasal septum , in patients with nasal obstruction or congestion which reduces airway pressure and complicates OSA.

• Tonsilectomy and/or adenoidectomy in an attempt to increase the size of the airway.

• Removal or reduction of parts of the soft palate and some or all of the uvula , such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty ( LAUP ). Modern variants of this procedure sometimes use radiofrequency waves to heat and remove tissue.

• Reduction of the tongue base, either with laser excision or radiofrequency ablation .

• Genioglossus Advancement , in which a small portion of the lower jaw which attaches to the tongue is moved forward, to pull the tongue away from the back of the airway.

• Hyoid Suspension, in which the hyoid bone in the neck, another attachment point for tongue muscles, is pulled forward in front of the larynx .

• Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). A more invasive surgery usually only tried in difficult cases where other surgeries have not relieved the patient's OSA, or where an abnormal facial structure is suspected as a root cause. In MMA, the patient's upper and lower jaw are detached from the skull, moved forward, and reattached with pins and/or plates.

For more information on sleep apnea treatments of other sleep disorders, be sure to click on one of the links below.

Sleep apnea and the power of tea

Sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease

Sleep apnea natural cures

Natural herbal supplements and treatments

Surgical treatments for sleep apnea

Other sleep disorders

Therapeutic interventions for sleep apnea

 NEXT...