Sleep Apnea Surgery
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the airway repetitively collapses during your sleep, resulting in obstructed breathing. In sleep apnea, the muscles and other structures surrounding the airway (pharyngeal muscles) relax disproportionately, resulting in an airway that becomes obstructed. Obstruction leads to poor oxygenation and a build-up of carbon dioxide. Eventually, the body senses this reversal, and will arouse itself in order to regain control of the muscles (pharyngeal dilators) and begin breathing. For some, this cycle of events can occur more than 30 times per hour. It is not difficult to imagine the consequences of repeated interruption during sleep.
- Approximately 20 million Americans have sleep apnea; however, only about 5% have been correctly diagnosed.
- Factors increasing your risk of developing sleep apnea include:
- Aging
- Obesity
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Commonly reported daytime signs and symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Irritability
- Loss of sexual drive
- Memory loss
- Commonly reported nocturnal signs and symptoms include:
- Witnessed apneic events
- Snoring
- Bruxism or Grinding
- Gasping for air
- Frequent arousals
- Untreated sleep apnea can result in a host of systemic illnesses, including but not limited to: high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure and arryhthmia.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, you may be a good candidate for Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA). This is a surgical procedure in which both the upper and lower jaws are advanced forward. By moving the jaws forward, the attached airway will similarly advance, resulting in an airway that is less susceptible to collapsing. It has proven to be very effective for upper and lower airway disorders.
Geniohyoid Advancement is another commonly used procedure that can be used synergistically with MMA, or used in isolation. In geniohyoid advancement, the muscles at the base of the tongue are advanced forward pulling the hyoid bone forward, thereby expanding the airway. It has proven to be very effective for obstructive disorders of the lower oropharynx.
As part of the preoperative workup, a complete medical examination will be performed. In addition, a sleep study, or polysomnograpy, will need to be performed in order to ascertain the severity of your sleep apnea; as well as imaging of your entire head and neck area, with emphasis on your airway. In some cases, the help of an orthodontist will be enlisted to maximize the amount of forward movement possible - i.e. decompensation of teeth with braces. The procedure is performed in a hospital-setting in Manhattan.
Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Sunwoo for a personal consultation to see if you are a candidate for these procedures.
