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Sleep Apnea - Surgery
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
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- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
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- Related Information
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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
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
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 9, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Mark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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