Lower Airway Surgery For Sleep Apnea


by Rudy Watkins - Date: 2006-12-09 - Word Count: 371 Share This!

Lower airway surgery may be a good option for someone suffering from sleep apnea. Lower airway surgery can accomplish two things: one is widening the airway to increase ease of breathing and two is to prevent the collapse of the airway. There are several different types of lower airway surgery which may help a sleep apnea patient. Determining whether or not a particular surgery will work for you is up to your and your doctor.

Genioglossus advancement is one such lower airway surgery which may help sleep apnea. The genioglossus muscle is located at the back of the tongue and attaches it to the back of the chin. Genioglossus advancement works by moving the tongue further forward in the mouth. This gives more room for proper air circulation and can reduce the chances of an apnea episode.

Hyoid advancement is yet another specific type of lower airway surgery. It also makes the space behind the tongue wider to allow for easier air circulation, but this surgery is done by brining the hyoid bone further forward. The hyoid bone connects the muscles to the back of the tongue and the lower throat.

A surgery known as midline glossectomy may be done if your doctor finds your tongue to be too large and a cause of your sleep apnea. In a midline glossectomy a middle section of the tongue is removed in a v-shape formation. If more of the tongue needs to be removed, such as the sides the surgery is known as lingualplasty.

Another option is to remove the lingua tonsils at the back of the mouth. This tonsil-like tissue may become inflamed and cause problems with breathing. Quite often a temporary tracheostomy may accompany this surgery since post-surgical swelling may also interfere with breathing.

The size of a person's mouth can also affect sleep apnea. If the mouth is too small breathing may be difficult. Another surgery involves moving the upper and lower jawbone forward, as well as the teeth. Bimaxillary advancement is one such surgery in which titanium screws and metal plates must be used to keep the jaw into place. This type of surgery typically has a lengthy recovery period. Whether or not surgery will help your sleep apnea is up to your doctor.


Related Tags: sleep apnea cures, sleep apnea surgery, tracheostomy, sleep apnea treatments

Rudy Watkins writes about the causes and treatments for sleep apnea on the Sleep Conditions website. For more helpful information and to sign up for our free newsletter, visit http://www.sleepconditions.com

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