Snoring and sleep apnea surgery

Snoring and sleep apnea surgery aims to widen and firm up the part of the airway that closes during sleep. It is not a single operation: it can be nasal surgery (septoplasty, turbinoplasty), palate surgery such as barbed-suture pharyngoplasty, which repositions and tightens the soft palate without cutting tissue, tonsil removal, or a combination of these.

The key is choosing well. That is why Dr. Irina performs a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in the operating room, under sedation, to see exactly where and how your airway closes while you sleep, and recommends surgery only when the anatomy has a surgical solution.

• Snoring or sleep apnea with obstruction located in the palate or nose
• People who don’t tolerate CPAP, depending on the evaluation
• Large tonsils that contribute to sleep apnea
• Nasal obstruction that prevents using CPAP or makes it ineffective

A home sleep test to grade the sleep apnea, examination and endoscopy in the office, and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in the operating room to locate the site of obstruction. A CT scan when the nose is part of the plan. Laboratory tests and an anesthesia evaluation.

In the hospital, under general anesthesia. Depending on the plan, Dr. Irina corrects the nose, performs the barbed-suture pharyngoplasty and, if applicable, removes the tonsils at the same time. The stay is usually one night.

Sore throat for one to two weeks after palate surgery, controlled with pain relievers and a soft diet; congestion after nasal surgery. Dr. Irina sees you for follow-up and, after a few months, repeats the home sleep test to measure the result.

Like any surgery, it has risks: bleeding, infection, discomfort from anesthesia, and the possibility that the improvement is partial or that an additional procedure is needed. Dr. Irina explains the specific risks of your case and the alternatives before you decide, and provides written informed consent.

In sleep apnea surgery, the improvement may be partial and in some cases it is combined with CPAP at a lower pressure or with an oral appliance. Alternatives: CPAP, a mandibular advancement device, positional therapy and weight control.

1. 01Snoring
   Snoring is the noise air makes as it passes through a narrow airway during sleep. It can be merely a nuisance or the visible sign of sleep apnea.
2. 02Obstructive sleep apnea
   What it is, how it is diagnosed and what treatment options exist, explained by an otolaryngologist (ENT) with a subspecialty in sleep-disordered breathing.

Dr. Irina has specific training in sleep surgery and is a member of the Ibero-American Society of Sleep Surgery. Her approach is clear: operate on those whose anatomy allows it, and say so honestly to those whose anatomy doesn’t, so that each person gets the treatment that truly works for them.