Sleep Apnea-Surgery

Sleep Apnea - Surgery

Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is usually not done unless other treatments have failed or you are unable or choose not to use other treatments.

Surgery Choices

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty removes excess tissue in the throat to make the airway wider. It is the most common surgery to treat sleep apnea in adults.
Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy removes the tonsils and/or the adenoids. It is an option if you have enlarged tonsils and adenoids that are blocking your airway during sleep. This is often the first treatment option for children because enlarged tonsils and adenoids are usually the cause of their sleep apnea.
Other surgical procedures are used to repair bone and tissue problems in the mouth and throat.
Tracheostomy creates a hole in the windpipe (trachea). A tube is then put in the hole to bring air in. Doctors rarely use this surgery because it may cause other health problems. But when other techniques have failed, almost all people who are treated with tracheostomy will be cured of their sleep apnea.
Bariatric surgery is done for weight loss. If you are extremely overweight (severely obese) and the excess weight is making your sleep apnea worse, you may consider surgery to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery can promote weight loss that improves sleep apnea.¹⁴

Sleep apnea: Should I have surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea?

Surgery for children

Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy usually is the first choice for children, because enlarged tonsils or adenoids cause most cases of sleep apnea in children. Other types of surgery may be needed to correct birth defects that can cause sleep apnea symptoms.

What To Think About

If you are thinking about having surgery to treat sleep apnea, talk with your doctor about having a sleep study done first. Experts typically suggest that you try continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) before considering surgery. CPAP is a machine that increases air pressure in the throat and prevents tissues in the airway from collapsing when you breathe in.

In adults, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most common surgery used to treat sleep apnea.

There is no clear research on how well UPPP works for sleep apnea.⁴
UPPP may stop snoring, but apnea episodes may continue.²
Limited research shows that about 40% to 60% of people who have UPPP see an improvement in their symptoms.⁸
You may still need other forms of treatment, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), after surgery.
You will need sleep studies after surgery to make sure periods of apnea do not continue or return.
UPPP usually is not used to treat sleep apnea in children.

Tracheostomy is used only when all other treatments for severe sleep apnea have failed or when you cannot tolerate other treatments.

A rarely used option is repositioning facial bones (maxillofacial reconstruction) if CPAP or UPPP do not work. This surgery is designed to increase the size of the bones around the tongue and to create pull (traction) on the base of the tongue, which enlarges the airway. You will usually need more than one surgery.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty uses a laser to perform surgery. It is sometimes used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea, although not all people benefit. This surgery is not approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to treat sleep apnea.³

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You say you are able to function well with fewer than seven hours of sleep. Some people say they can function on four to six hours of sleep each night, but research shows that adults who get fewer than seven hours of sleep — whether for just one night or over the course of days, weeks, or months — have more difficulty concentrating and more mood problems than people who sleep seven to nine hours.

Since you usually get too little sleep, please talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns. Poor quality sleep can affect many areas of your life and health, and your doctor may be able to help you if you have insomnia or other conditions affecting your sleep.

Sleep deprivation can have both short- and long-term consequences. Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's not surprising you feel that you're not functioning at your best today. Some people say they can function on four to six hours of sleep each night, but research shows that adults who get fewer than seven hours of sleep — whether for just one night or over the course of days, weeks, or months — have more difficulty concentrating and more mood problems than people who sleep seven to nine hours.

Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's good that you usually do get more sleep, since sleep deprivation can have both short- and long-term consequences. Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. And if you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's good that you usually do get more sleep because sleep deprivation can have both short- and long-term consequences. Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. And if you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

Since you usually get less sleep, please talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns. Poor quality sleep can affect many areas of your life and health, and your doctor may be able to help you if you have difficulty sleeping or have insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's wonderful that you got a good night's sleep last night. Many people struggle to do so. Having a good sleep routine often is the key to getting the quality sleep night after night that your body needs for optimal health. Whether your sleep routine involves taking a warm bath, reading a book, or meditating, it's important to keep your bedtime and routine consistent every night and wake up around the same time every morning.

Click here to read more about the importance of sleep. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's unfortunate you're not functioning at your best today. You say you had a good quantity of sleep last night, but maybe the quality of your sleep is not as good as it could be? Having a good sleep routine — including a consistent bedtime and wake time — often is the key to getting the quality sleep night after night that your body needs for optimal health. Since you usually sleep this amount, if you often aren't feeling your best, you should consider talking to your doctor. Could you have an underlying condition? Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Have you taken medication that disrupted your sleep? Do you or could you have sleep apnea? Or do you naturally require a little bit more sleep?

Although sleep is crucial for optimal health, some research suggests that sleeping too much can also have negative consequences. Learn more about sleep. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

It's unfortunate you're not functioning at your best today. You say you had a good quantity of sleep last night, but maybe the quality of your sleep is not as good as it could be? Having a good sleep routine — including a consistent bedtime and wake time — often is the key to getting the quality sleep night after night that your body needs for optimal health. Since you usually sleep longer, if you often aren't feeling your best, you should consider talking to your doctor. Could you have an underlying condition? Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Have you taken medication that disrupted your sleep? Do you or could you have sleep apnea? Or do you naturally require a little bit more sleep?

It's wonderful that you got a good night's sleep last night. Many people struggle to do so. Having a good sleep routine often is the key to getting the quality sleep night after night that your body needs for optimal health. Whether your sleep routine involves taking a warm bath, reading a book, or meditating, it's also important to keep bedtime consistent and wake up around the same time every morning.

Although sleep is crucial for optimal health, some research suggests that sleeping too much can have negative consequences. Learn more about sleep. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

Since you usually get less sleep, please talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns. Poor quality sleep can affect many areas of your life and health, and your doctor may be able to help you if you have insomnia, another sleep disorder, or conditions affecting your sleep.

Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

Since you usually get less sleep, talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns. Poor quality sleep can affect many areas of your life and health, and your doctor may be able to help you if you have insomnia or another sleep disorder or conditions affecting your sleep.

Learn more about the health consequences of sleep loss. If you're concerned about having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, assess your risk for a sleep disorder.

SOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Effect of short sleep duration on daily activities--United States, 2005-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011; 60:239.

Carskadon, MA, Dement, WC. Normal Human Sleep: An Overview. In: Principles and Practices of Sleep Medicine, Fifth, Kryger, MH, Roth, et al. (Eds), Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO 2011. p.16.

Harvard University: "Sleep, Performance, and Public Safety."

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