Sleep Apnea Surgery

Sleep apnea surgery or surgeries is often considered by many people who suffer from sleeping apnea, and have found no relief from other types of treatment, including CPAP. Sleep apnea surgeries are serious, as any type of surgery is, and should not be considered lightly. You need to speak with your health care provider to get the necessary facts before determining that surgery or surgical procedures are the best option for you.

Surgical procedures for sleeping apnea begin by identifying the areas where the airway is obstructed in the nose, the soft palate and the tongue while asleep. Tissues that block the airway while asleep or at rest are removed or reconstructed during surgery. The techniques may include tracheotomy, glossectomy, or simple reconstruction. A tracheotomy is a hole in the throat in which a tube is inserted. A glossectomy is the removal of a portion of the tongue with the use of a laser. These are the two more serious procedures that can be done to cure sleeping apnea.

Again, any surgeries or surgical options should not be considered lightly, and should only be chosen after other treatments for sleep apnea have failed. Discuss your options with your physician, and if surgery is recommended, have your doctor refer you to a surgeon for the procedure. Make sure that you discuss the procedure at length with the surgeon, and that you understand exactly what will be done during the surgery. Also make sure that your surgeon is clear as to what you will and will not accept. In other words, if a tracheotomy or removal of a portion of your tongue is not acceptable to you, make sure that your surgeon is aware of this.

Also See: Central Sleep Apnea

About The Author:
Andrew Thomas is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.sleep-disorders-help.com.