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A variety
of surgical and non-surgical options are considered when treating snoring
and sleep apnea. An otolaryngologist is a physician whose specialty is the
medical and surgical treatment of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures
of the head and neck. He or she traditionally performs surgical procedures
if indicated. Snoring sounds results from vibration of tissue in the throat.
In order to select the best treatment, it is important to detect the likely
source of snoring. It has been shown that different sources of snoring produce
different vibration sound patterns. The SNAP Test is the only test to analyze
the patients' snoring patterns including their magnitude and vibrations,
as well as the frequency and duration of sleep apnea. The test's ability
to analyze these sound vibration patterns helps physicians select the best
course of treatment for patients.
CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure delivers air to the airway through a
mask creating enough pressure to relieve the airway obstruction during sleep.
LAUP
Laser-Assisted UvuloPalatoplasty is an in-office procedure that treats snoring
and some cases of mild sleep apnea by removing the obstruction in the airway.
A laser stiffens the palate and gradually lifts it. This procedure is usually
done in an office visit using local anesthesia.
SOMNOPLASTY
This is a procedure that uses a needle electrode of low frequency radio
waves to shrink excess tissue in the upper airway including the palate and
uvula, base of the tongue, and nasal passages. It takes about 15 minutes
and is done under local anesthesia during an office visit.
INJECTION SNOREPLASTY
Injection snoreplasty is a new, in-office procedure that shows great promise
as an effective, quick and relatively, painless treatment option for snoring.
It uses an injectable fluid located at the base of the uvula to stiffen
the roof of the mouth and to create scar tissue which will diminish the
flutter noise of snoring. The treatment takes about 15 minutes.
 UPPP
UvuloPalatoPharyngoPlasty (UPPP) is the most common type of surgery to treat
snoring and sleep apnea together. A surgeon removes tissue from the back
of the patient's mouth and top of the throat. The patient's palate is folded
over on itself and stitched into place. UPPP is typically performed in a
hospital under general anesthesia.
  Nasal
surgery: To straighten cartilage between two
 nasal chambers or to
remove polyps.
Tonsillectomy
and adenoids: To remove tonsils
and
adenoids.
Jaw
surgery: To move the jaw and tongue forward.
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