NEW STUDY VALIDATES EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR TREATING MODERATE TO SEVERE SLEEP APNEA
Sleep Specialist Dr. Gerald Suh Reports that Multilevel Procedures Improve Results
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 18 million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. “Untreated sleep apnea has serious consequences for health,” says sleep specialist and otolaryngologist Dr. Gerald Suh. “Interrupted breathing puts stress on the heart, elevating blood pressure and denying the patient restful and restorative sleep.” Because the root causes of apnea are different for each patient, we continue to evaluate treatment options as evidenced by a recently published study titled Evaluation of Open Midline Glossectomy in the Multilevel Surgical Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome by Dr. Gerald D. Suh. The study confirmed that a combination of procedures is often required to achieve a successful outcome and was published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the official peer-reviewed publication of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation in its January 2013 edition. (http://oto.sagepub.com/content/148/1/166).
Study and results “The site of obstruction causing sleep apnea is different from patient to patient,” says Dr. Suh. “There may be blockage at the nose, the palate or the base of the tongue. In many patients, there is more than one level of obstruction. The basic surgical procedure is to remove or trim tissue at one or more of these locations.” For many apnea sufferers, and not just those who are obese, the tongue is a major obstructive factor and surgical procedures have been developed to reduce the size of the tongue at its base. In Dr. Suh’s study, fifty patients with moderate to severe apnea, all of whom had blockage at the level of the tongue, underwent surgery to address their tongue collapse.
“This study yielded important information that helps us understand the factors that contribute to apnea in each patient and determine which specific surgical procedures offer the best opportunity for a successful outcome for that individual,” says Dr. Suh. “There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment for apnea. We have a wide array of techniques available and studies like this one help us make the best match between patient and procedure.”
Dr. Suh concludes: “Curing obstructive sleep apnea or significantly reducing its symptoms will dramatically improve overall health and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke while improving quality of life by allowing patients to sleep restfully.”
Dr. Gerald Suh is board certified in otolaryngology and sleep medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He is a leader in treating sleep disordered breathing. http://www.entandallergy.com/doctor/gerald-suh-md