Sleep apnea surgery has been applied to many patients in recent years and successful results were obtained. In this article, you can find information about sleep apnea, which is confused with snoring among the public but causes much more serious problems than simple snoring.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of respiratory activity during sleep. Sleep apnea, which can be experienced multiple times during the night, can cause serious diseases such as heart diseases unless treated.

Sleep apnea, which occurs as a result of the looseness of the soft tissues in the larynx region, can also be experienced as a result of oversized tonsils. The cessation of breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time is called sleep apnea, while the airway is forced open with the messages sent to the brain to maintain breathing during apnea. Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing that occurs while a person is sleeping. The main causes of each sleep apnea are different. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times, often for a minute or more. In most cases, these dreaming patients are unaware of this, because they do not reach the full awakening phase.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts several times. It could be an indication that you have sleep apnea when you snore at a loud volume or feel tired even after a night's sleep.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax. These muscles consist of the tonsils, lateral walls and tongue. When the muscles relax, the airways narrow or close during breathing and the person cannot breathe adequately. This can reduce the oxygen level in the blood. The brain feels that you cannot breathe and wakes the person from sleep so that it can open the airway again. This awakening state usually lasts very shortly.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may not be aware about the state of their sleep. In fact, some people with this type of sleep apnea think they sleep all night. Central sleep apnea is a less common form of sleep apnea when the brain does not send signals to the respiratory muscles. Patients may wake up with shortness of breath and have difficulty falling asleep.

In Which Situations Does It Occur?

Narrowing of the upper airways due to excess weight and breathing more than normal, enlarged tonsils, tongue lag and snoring are common causes of obstructive sleep apnea. Overgrown nose flesh and tonsils are the most common causes in children. Structural defects of the skull and facial bones cause also cause sleep apnea, albeit rarely.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk factors may include overweight or obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption, advanced age, genetic factors and some drugs that increase sleep.

How is the Diagnosis Made?

A detailed history is taken from the patient themselves and their relatives. Then, a detailed examination of the ear, nose and throat is made. As a standard, sleep testing is used, in which the patient's heart rate, oxygen level, brain waves, eye movements, muscle tension and chest activity are monitored and recorded. As a result of this test, the patient's strategic information points during sleep are recorded, and according to these points, whether there is sleep apnea and, if any, its severity is determined.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

It is the most common type of sleep apnea which occurs when the throat muscles are relaxed.

Central Sleep Apnea

It occurs when the brain does not send the appropriate signals to the respiratory muscles.

Complex sleep apnea

Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as central sleep apnea, is encountered in people with obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

The main symptoms of sleep apnea can be listed as follows;

• Insomnia
• Chronic fatigue
• Concentration disorder
• Inattention
• Sweating
• Dry mouth
• Restlessness during sleep
• Reflux
• Frequent urination at night

As a result of the researches, it has been determined that the sleep apnea problem significantly increases the risk of traffic accidents.

Sleep apnea problem, which occurs due to the loose and large soft tissues in the tongue base and larynx; today, it can be treated with surgical methods.

What is Sleep Apnea Surgery?

Sleep apnea surgery is based on the discipline of eliminating physiological problems that cause sleep apnea. In this case the larger-than-normal tonsil that causes sleep apnea can be removed, and the removal or reduction of loose and excess tissues at the base of the tongue can be performed. Before the surgery planning, of course, the general health status of the patient is evaluated; the factors causing sleep apnea are determined and conservative treatment methods and CPAP treatment (positive airway pressure) practices are performed.

If sleep apnea cannot be cured with conservative treatments, sleep apnea surgery is applied. The detailed answer to the question of what is sleep apnea and about the operation process should be accurately conveyed to the patient. In this process, the surgical method to be performed is also decided.

How is Sleep Apnea Surgery Performed?

There is no definite and only treatment for sleep apnea. Treatment is carried out taking into account many factors. Weight loss, smoking and alcohol restriction should be applied first. Medications that may exacerbate sleep apnea should be reduced. Various non-surgical treatments are available. Among them is the option of a soft silicone mask that is placed on the patient's nose. In some patients, the tongue and mandible may be pulled forward and an intraoral device used to dilate the airways for use during sleep.

Under Which Conditions Can the Surgery Be Applied?

During sleep endoscopy, the level of upper respiratory tract obstruction is determined. There are many surgical options that allow the expansion of the upper respiratory tract in patients with sleep apnea. Nasal operations are the most frequently performed operations. Nasal surgeries are effective in patients with snoring and mild sleep apnea. This ensures that the complaints are reduced in patients with moderate and severe sleep apnea.

Soft palate contraction and formation, removal of large tonsils, change in the shape of the pharynx and contraction methods applied to the base of the tongue are the most common procedures for sleep apnea. Nose and tonsil surgeries are the most common operations performed on children.

Recovery Process After Sleep Apnea Surgery

Sleep apnea surgery can be performed with 3 different surgical methods. These are as follows;

•  Open surgery
•  Endoscopic surgery
•   Transoral robotic surgery

Especially with the operations performed with endoscopic and transoral robotic surgery, the recovery process after sleep apnea surgery progresses comfortably and easy. In this process, the doctor's recommendations should not be exceeded and the use of prescription drugs should not be interrupted. At the same time, attention should be paid to the sleeping position.

The cost of a sleep apnea surgery

There are many factors that determine the sleep apnea surgery cost. The surgical method to be applied and the type of anesthesia are among the most important determining factors. At the same time, there may be differences in costs depending on the choice of doctor.

For detailed information about sleep apnea surgery cost: You can call 0 (216) 576 02 00.