Snoring Surgery
Content
Description
Snoring during sleep is caused by a narrowing of the airway.
The air we inhale and exhale twists and vibrates at the narrowing point, causing a raspy sound (snoring) and can lead to obstructive sleep apnea (stopping of airflow).
Surgical treatment aims to remove obstructions in the airway.
Facts
- General anesthesia
- Hospitalization 1 - 3 days
- Procedure takes about 60 - 90 min
- Healing in 7 days
The airways can be narrowed in different parts:
- Nose - deviated nasal septum. The solution is septoplasty
- Nasal turbinates - the solution is turbinoplasty
- Tonsils - in children, nasopharyngeal tonsils (adenoids), or throat tonsils - the solution is adenotomy and tonsillectomy
- Soft palate and pharynx - the solution is UPPP, LAUP or somnoplasty (listed below)
The operation aimed at adjusting the soft palate, pharynx and larynx is called the daunting name uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).
Its principle is to reduce the tonsils, shorten and adjust the soft palate so that the size of the airways increases.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about 60 - 90 minutes.
Rest and physical sparing (2 weeks) are required after surgery, as for the diet, liquid and mushy foods are recommended (e.g. ice cream, cold yogurts, soups). Hot foods and spicy foods should be avoided.
Healing takes about 2 weeks, the result of the operation will come after 4 - 6 weeks.
This is a minor procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia - using a laser (CO2 or diode laser), excess tissue on the soft palate is removed.
The procedure takes up to 30 minutes. If the palate is too large, the procedure must be repeated and divided into 2-3 sessions.
After the procedure, sensitivity (a sore throat like with the flu) persists for about 7-14 days. During this period, it is recommended to eat a soft diet.
