Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is very important for your overall health. Treatment options can include lifestyle changes, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, and surgery.
  1. Lifestyle Changes
    • Lose excess weight. Even moderate weight loss may help to relieve airway obstruction.
    • Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills.
    • Sleep on your side or stomach rather than your back.
    • Stop smoking.
  2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
    CPAP is the most common form of treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP therapy involves wearing a pressurized mask over the nose during sleep. The mask is attached to a small pump that provides air pressure to the airway to keep it open during sleep. CPAP therapy may eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea.
  3. Surgery
    The goal of surgery for sleep apnea is to remove excess tissue from the nose or throat or to expand the bone around the airway to relieve blocked upper air passages that cause sleep apnea.

Surgical options include:

Nasal Surgery | Nasal, Septal and Adenoid surgeries are sometimes performed in order to open the nasal breathing passages and permit easier breathing.

Uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty (UPPP, UP3) | The uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty (UPPP) and tonsillectomy are often performed as a part of Obstructive Sleep Apnea surgery. The UPPP procedure shortens and stiffens the soft palate by partial removal of the uvula and reduction of the edge of the soft palate.

Tonsillectomy and Throat Surgery | The tonsillectomy can be an important component of surgery for OSA, especially if the tonsils are at all enlarged. The removal of redundant tissue by tonsillectomy increases the caliber of the throat thereby reducing blockage to breathing.

Genio-Glossus Advancement (GGA) | The Genio-Glossus Advancement (GGA) is a procedure which was developed specifically for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Like all surgery for this condition, the operation is designed to open the upper breathing passage.

Jaw Advancement | Maxillo-mandibular Advancement (MMA) or double jaw advancement is a procedure whereby the upper and lower jaws are surgically moved forward (Lefort 1 osteotomy of the maxilla & saggital split advancement of the mandible). The concept is that as the bones are surgically advanced the soft tissues of the tongue and palate are also moved forward, again opening the upper airway. The usual movement is about a half an inch. Since the upper and lower teeth are moved the same amount, the bite would be similar before and after operation.

More detailed information on the surgical treatment of sleep apnea.