Posted on 10/24/2007 12:11:25 PM PDT by crazyshrink
Oral surgery can reduce CPAP needs in patients with sleep apnea (Chicago, IL, October 24, 2007) — A procedure known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) may help some patients improve or even eliminate their obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study. The research, presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), says the procedure, which removes excess tissue in the throat or mouth to widen the airway, can reduce the amount of treatment required by patients with OSA. In addition, researchers say UPPP also can eliminate OSA completely in some patients.
“Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a well-established treatment for sleep apnea,” said lead study author Akram Khan, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Florida Jacksonville, “and while most patients tolerate it well, some are unable to tolerate it or don’t want to, and those patients need alternative means of treatment.”
To determine if UPPP provided improvement in sleep parameters, Dr. Khan and his colleagues from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, evaluated the success of the procedure in 63 patients aged 18-80, with OSA, over a 7-year period. All patients underwent UPPP and were assessed with polysomnography within a 6-month period, pre-procedure and post-procedure.
Results showed that UPPP eliminated OSA in approximately one quarter to one-third of patients, depending on the definition of success. Of those who experienced residual OSA and returned to CPAP use, the required CPAP setting was modestly lower. In addition, researchers reported that UPPP also reduced the mean apnea-hyponea index in patients.
“The apnea-hyponea index basically tells us the number of times a patient with sleep apnea quits breathing per hour,” Dr. Khan explained. “We found that the surgical procedure reduced patients’ apenic (nonbreathing) episodes by more than half.” According to Dr. Khan, UPPP provided an improvement in oxygen levels and other parameters of sleep, as well.
First described in 1981, UPPP has been used widely with varying results. Though researchers are unclear on what characteristics make up the ideal UPPP candidate, they suggest that patients with mild OSA, who are relatively young, lean, and healthy, may have the best results with this procedure. Researchers also believe that a decrease in CPAP requirements would likely improve compliance in patients who don’t have their OSA completely resolved.
“Obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of other illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, among others,” said Alvin V. Thomas, Jr., MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. “Patients and physicians need to work together to recognize the signs of sleep apnea and to identify which method of treatment is most suitable.”
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Try saying that fast five times.
bmflr
Or try the “put down the bucket of chicken” procedure, which is just as effective.
Now I think I need this oral surgery after trying that.
I think plenty of thin people have this problem. What I can’t understand is how anybody can sleep or a have a normal marital bed life with a big hose attached to their noggin.
Sign me up...
I had a sleep study done 2 years ago becuase my wife say I snore every night. When I took the study I did not snore a lick all night. The doctor diagnosed me with no apnea. My wife was astounded and them mad.
That said I cannot sleep with a mask on my face and asked about the surgery and was told no it did not work anyway.
Oh, I am not overweight, 6’2” 230 athletic build and work out 4-5 times a week.
I have mild sleep apnea, that so far is mild enough to be treated by:
-avoiding heartburn inducing food near bedtime
-wearing a “breathe-right” nasal strip
-sleeping on my side
I couldn’t sleep with that big hose on my head...I tried it at the sleep clinic and they couldn’t get an “accurate reading” since I didn’t sleep a wink the entire night.
Yea sleep apnea, adult onset diabetes, severe arthritis, most maladies can be traced back to morbidly obese patients. I gained about 30lbs and in a check up my Doc told me somethng that stuck..”How many 300lb 70 year olds do you see walkling around?”.
I’m afraid these procedures will always be too expensive for me. Even CPAP is beyond my means and I’m sure this surgery is much higher than that.
Ping
I believe my husband also has mild SA. He once awoke to me hanging over him shining a flashlight into his mouth. I knew whatever was causing that awful flapping sound and snoring could be yanked out and I was determined to do so. LOL!
He ‘forgets’ to wear a breathe-right. He knows not how close to strangulation he comes every night. :evil grin:
Doc said my AHI number was 11.
I carry about 30lbs more than I should...according to my MD, those slightly overweight to overweight/obese are most prone to this...
I havent seen all the statistics but I sincerely doubt when compared to the number of overweight people that have this issue...those underweight or right at their weight for their size count as a “significant” number...
Not trying to be a weight nazi...but...it is what it is...
I know someone who uses one of these machines. I asked his daughter that same question. She said that he actually likes the machine because he feels rested after sleeping, for the first time in years. I haven't asked his wife what she thinks of it though.
Been there, done that, had the procedure.
Which is all well and good unless you can’t fall asleep in the first place with what feels like a vacuum cleaner in reverse attached to your head...
I don’t know what the statistics are but I’m 6’2” and 155 soaking wet. I’ve had SA since I was about 15.
If you have severe enough SA to need one of these machines you’ll fall asleep fine, because you’ll actually be able to breath. SA is a nasty thing, people going years without real restful sleep. I’m one of those really sensitive sleepers, but I know if I’m tired enough I can fall asleep eventually.
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