Surgery for Snoring
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes a someone to temporarily stop breathing during sleep. Many studies have been done to prevent surgery for snoring. Usually, the person stops breathing for several seconds. Some patients may even stop breathing for several minutes. When a person is diagnosed with this disorder, doctors may recommend sleep apnea surgery for snoring if other cures are unsuccessful.
However, various surgeries can be performed on the patient, the most common surgery for snoring is called Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).
UPPP is a sleep apnea treatment for how to cure snoring that removes the uvula, a soft piece of tissue at the back of the throat. This procedure might also remove sections of throat tissue and the soft palate. The goal of this surgery is to make the airway larger, allowing for easier breathing.
UPPP is not the only type of surgery for how to prevent snoring performed on patients. Other kinds of surgeries for how to prevent snoring for central sleep apnea depend on the needs of the patient with sleep apnea diagnosis. For example, some people could be eligible for a pillar palatal implant. This particular surgery is intended to decrease snoring.
During the procedure, the operating surgeon places three small pieces of string into the patient’s soft palate. This implant helps to decrease the movement and quivering of the soft palate. Doctors may recommend this type of sleep apnea surgery for those with mild or moderate types of sleep apnea.
In emergency situations, the doctor may perform a tracheostomy. This requires making a hole in the patient’s windpipe. The doctor then places a tube inside the hole so that the patient can breathe. This aggressive treatment is used only if the patient’s life is at risk. It also can lead to further health problems.
Other surgeries can be performed to correct facial structure that interferes with proper breathing. Such surgeries may involve moving the jawbone or chin forward to permit the patient to breathe more regularly. Bariatric surgery may help obese patients with sleep apnea as well. This type of surgery reduces a patient’s weight and can often cure sleep apnea. Children and teenagers sometimes receive sleep apnea cures when their tonsils or adenoids are removed.
Before undergoing sleep apnea surgery, patients should take part in a sleep study. This requires spending the night in a sleep clinic so a sleep lab technician can measure the patient’s brain activity, heart rate, and other important information. When a patient has sleep apnea diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe sleep apnea treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This is a type of machine that keeps airway tissues from collapsing when a person inhales. If the CPAP proves to be ineffective, the doctor may then suggest some form of sleep apnea surgery.
