Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

THE PRIMARY TREATMENT for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, but the minimum acceptable number of hours of nightly CPAP use remains unclear. INTEGRATED SOFT TISSUE and bone surgery may be a viable alternative for patients who have rejected CPAP as a treatment option. Formal sleep testing has shown that surgery and CPAP therapy are equally successful at resolving OSA.

Comprehensive reconstructive surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly treated by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Patients can be intolerant, noncompliant, or avoidant of CPAP therapy but incur increased risk of cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, and shortened life span without treatment. Comprehensive hard and soft tissue surgical therapy directed at the nasal, retro-palatal, and retro-lingual airway has been shown to optimize surgical outcomes compared with isolated soft tissue procedures.