Dead Air: The Perils of Sleep Apnea
Surgeries for Sleep Apnea
Should all conservative treatments fail, surgery is the last resort. This may come in the form of:
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty wherein the surgeon removes the tonsils and tissues from the rear of the mouth and the top of the throat,
- Maxillomandibular advancement wherein the jaw is moved forward, enlarging the space behind the tongue and the soft palate,
- Implants wherein plastic rods are implanted into the soft palate, or
Tracheostomy wherein a new airway is surgically created through an incision in the neck, and a plastic tube is inserted.