Sleep Apnea: Should I Have Surgery?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Sleep Apnea: Should I Have Surgery?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Your options

  • Have surgery for sleep apnea.
  • Do not have surgery.

Key points to remember

  • It's important to treat obstructive sleep apnea, because sleep apnea makes you more likely to have high blood pressure, depression, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
  • Your doctor will probably have you try lifestyle changes and CPAP, Opens dialog (continuous positive airway pressure) first. Surgery might be a choice if you have tried and cannot tolerate CPAP. Or you might have surgery to improve an airway blockage so that you can tolerate CPAP better.
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) surgery (which removes tissue from the back of your throat) may reduce sleep apnea and snoring for some people. But apnea episodes and snoring may return over time. You may still need CPAP after surgery.
  • The surgery called tracheostomy (which puts a permanent opening in your neck to your windpipe) almost always cures sleep apnea that is caused by blockage of the upper airway. But other treatments work almost as well in most people. And the surgery can cause many complications.
  • Other types of surgery that may be used to treat sleep apnea include:
    • Maxillo-mandibular advancement, which moves the upper and lower jaw forward to increase the size of the airway.
    • Radiofrequency ablation, which reduces the size of the tongue or other tissue that may be blocking airflow to the lungs.
    • Nerve stimulation. A device is implanted in the upper chest. It senses the breathing pattern and mildly stimulates the airway muscles to keep the airway open.
  • If you are very overweight, bariatric surgery, Opens dialog may help you lose weight. Losing weight may improve your sleep apnea.

FAQs

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Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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