Upper Airway Surgery Effective for Sleep Apnea

Anyone who suffers from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is probably acquainted with the machinery, the mask and the hoses of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP can be frustrating and uncomfortable, not just for the patient, but also for anyone attempting to sleep with the patient. One predictable result is short-lived compliance with the treatment.

New research into this debilitating condition offers hope in the form of reconstructive surgery on the upper airway. Researchers report that this surgery holds the same quality-of-life benefits as CPAP, but with more permanence.

The upper airway includes nose and throat (pharyngeal) areas, particularly behind the soft palate and tongue. Reconstructive surgery to treat sleep apnea involves clearing any blockages in those areas that might be hindering breathing.

The Australian authors of the study discovered that among moderate-to-severe OSA sufferers, those treated through upper airway surgery experienced the same level of long-term quality-of-life improvement as their peers who were treated with CPAP therapy. Among the benefits were improvements in snoring, sleepiness, and neurocognitive impairment.

SOURCE: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, August 2009