Types of Sleep Apnea Surgery

Sleep Apnea Guide >> Obstructive Apnea >> Sleep Apnea Surgery

Through surgery for sleep apnea you can remove, for example, the tissue that is blocking the airway, like adenoids and tonsils.

Therefore, the goal of this surgery is to eliminate the obstruction of the upper airway.

Let's start with...

Tracheostomy

In general, you have to be very sick from sleep apnea side effects to need tracheostomy.

In tracheostomy, a small hole is made into the trachea (windpipe) just below the voice box. A tube is inserted, and the air will flow through the tube into the lungs. In this way the obstruction in the upper airway is bypassed.

You will have this small opening all the time. The tube is worn permanently. You should know the opening can be surgically closed later, when you can apply for another therapy.

What are the side effects of tracheostomy?

Infection is the main problem. When you breathe through a tracheostomy, the air enters directly into your lungs. The natural filtering system from the nose and upper airway is diverted. Bacteria and viruses can enter now more easily into your body.

You can't go swimming. As the trach is not watertight, you would drown if you fell in any water. Also, it looks creepy - lets be honest, people stare at it when you first meet them,you cant blame them, its just youll end up talking about it.

So, you need to be careful. Keep cleaning the tube to avoid penetration of bacteria into lungs.

If you are not mentally prepared for a life with a tube in your neck, you will deal with depression. Your family has to learn about the care necessary after the surgery and should suport you in time of depression.

Don't forget about the importance of the hygiene around the tracheostomy hole!

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP

• is a surgery that removes uvula and a part of the soft palate.


• after operation, the voice may change, but usually for a short period of time. The sense of taste could be affected.


• is not a risky surgery. You can leave the hospital after two or three days. The anesthetics and sedatives are the real risk.


• oh, don't forget about the pain! I heard that is more painful than you can expect.


• if you choose this sleep apnea surgery, you need to discuss with your doctor the risks involved.

• you have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. You can' treat central apnea with this.


• you should not be overweight. And you should not gain weigh after the sleep apnea surgery.

People with severe apnea are not good candidates for UPPP. You should consult a good otolaryngologist to determine you chances with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty

With laser surgery you don't need anesthetics and sedatives and no hospitalization. Is less expensive an less painful than UPPP.

I must advise you that laser uvulopalatoplasty treats a symptom of sleep apnea, like snoring, and it is not a cure for sleep apnea.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

The stomach is reduced in size by dividing it in two parts. The upper part (the new stomach) is smaller than the lower part. After a gastric bypass surgery, your new stomach will receive food from the esophagus and empties into small intestine.

There are a lot of risk factors in this surgery: anesthesia, sedatives, opening and closing of the abdominal cavity, pain and discomfort. You will need more than one month to recover.

But this surgery is only for people whose lives are in danger because of their overweight.This people have already tried to lose weight and they have not succeeded.

People who read about Sleep Apnea Surgery also read about:

• New treatments for sleep apnea


• Pickwickian Syndrome


• Natural cure for sleep apnea

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