Saturday, February 25, 2012

A Look at Sleep Apnea Surgery

By Dollie Heitman


In some patients struggling with sleep apnea, there's too much tissue in the uvula or even soft palate. The uvula is "the soft finger-like tissue that hangs down from your roof of the mouth into the throat" while the soft palate is "section of the roof in the mouth." In instance a surgical procedure referred to as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is usually undertaken. This form of surgery can prove beneficial to some patients not really others. The case of the airway obstruction plays a giant role kind what style of treatment and/or surgical procedures are required.

Also known as UPPP this surgery involves the removing of the tonsils effectively as areas of the uvula and soft palate. In some cases excess tissue your throat akin to the adenoids and tonsils should be removed as well. There are cases when a patient's tongue is so big the idea causes breathing problems and therefore a tiny portion of it should be taken out. This procedure alone is known as an uvulopalatopharyngoglossoplasty.

After undergoing UPPP the patient might still find it needed to require continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This is solely a breathing apparatus resembling a mask which is worn the particular face at night permitting a patient a better time breathing and also to discourage the airways from closing up throughout sleep time. There may be some discomfort after this type of surgery is dome however there are some varieties of pain medicine that patients will not be advised to take due to the role they play in relaxing the muscles on the throat. These forms of drugs could serve to narrow air passages and therefore bring a good apneic event (or sleep apnea episode).

UPPP surgery is usually done for all those whom the physician has diagnosed has having sleep apnea because of too much tissue in their mouth, throat or nose that restricts the flow of air. As well those patients who either cannot use or do not need to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are encouraged to contemplate uvulopalatopharyngoplasty as a viable option for their health condition. Also those patients who have owned CPAP for a large length of your but do not notice any great improvement might do well to consider UPPP surgery.

Finally those that suffer from severe sleep apnea but do not wish to proceed that has a tracheostomy to help them might wish to consider this surgical alternative. Adults more often undergo this form of surgery compared to children. For children who experience sleep apnea their adenoids and tonsils are often removed although this type of surgery is not done typically as it had been in past generations.

UPPP carries with it a certain quantity of risks or complications. Sometimes there may be damage done to neighboring tissues and arteries, which can lead some other health concerns. As well medicines taken for pain can lead to sleep apnea episodes and an overall feeling of not having had enough sleep. Often times patients are experiencing swelling, pain, some bleeding every now and then infections do arise. Speech shouldn't be always precisely the same after a UPPP procedure. Many patients notice a nasal quality for their voice after keeping the surgery. Finally the airway for the actual nose as well as the throat can become narrowed next surgery takes place.




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