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Types of Surgeries for Sleep Apnea

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans of all ages and races. Those with sleep apnea are unable to breathe for at least 10 seconds at a time during sleep, and this inability to breathe occurs repeatedly, sometimes hundreds of times each night. Surgery is an option for sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by a blockage of your airway, usually by soft tissue.

  1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

    • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, the most common surgery used for OSA, removes your tonsils, adenoids and part of the roof of your mouth, as well as the ovula (a tissue that hangs from the back of the roof of your mouth). The American Sleep Apnea Association states that this type of surgery has a success rate of about 40 percent.

    Tracheotomy

    • Typically used if you have serious apnea that doesn't respond to other treatments, a tracheotomy creates a hole in the trachea or windpipe in order to facilitate your breathing. Although this surgery is the most effective for sleep apnea sufferers, it requires careful daily cleaning.

    Tongue Surgery

    • Laser midline glossectomy and lingualplasty are both surgeries that remove part of your tongue in order to clear your breathing path and lessen your sleep apnea symptoms.

    Jaw Surgery

    • Another type of surgery, maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO), moves your jaw forward in an effort to enlarge your airway. MMO, as well as a similar surgery called genioglossal advancement with hyoid myotomy and suspension (GAHM), typically require more skilled surgeons, but they also have very high success rates.

    Considerations

    • Depending upon the severity of your sleep apnea, surgery may improve your symptoms or it may eliminate them altogether. Check with your insurance provider before surgery to make sure your procedure is covered.

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