New Procedure Developed to Treat Sleep Apnea
Doctors in Philadelphia are now testing a new method for treatment of sleep apnea. This condition is not only one of the most menacing of sleep disorders but studies show that it can be an underlying cause of other health problems. The technique is the same way used in the taking away of tumors from the neck and head.
Snoring can be a reason for divorce. A couple, Rich and Bettyann Davis of New Jersey, have been married for more than 10 years. Bettyann says that Rich’s snoring was becoming intolerable. For some others, the next step was to get a divorce all for the reason of snoring issues. Bettyann was concerned about this and the couple had a sleep study conducted. The sleep study showed that Rich had a serious sleep apnea condition.
It was recommended that Rich use a CPAP machine. This is a normal treatment procedure for sleep apnea. However, like others, Rich found it uncomfortable and had issues with its usage. They had to look for another way to settle with this sleep disorder.
Rich underwent surgery to remove an area from the tongue base that was blocking the air way passage. Conventional sleep apnea surgery consists of removal of uvula, tonsillitis and some parts of the soft palate. Going that deep into the base of the tongue was not possible until the daVinci Robot.
Dr. Erica Thaler, a proponent of the daVinci Robot, said that the new procedure gave the opportunity of having a new surgery procedure. The daVinci Robot is provided with a 3D mini camera and very efficient cutting tools that are so efficient that it does not do damage to the surrounding areas. However, the robot is still at a testing phase as a remedy for the sleep disorder but has shown 65% success rate so far.
Post-surgery was quite uncomfortable according to Rich. It was liken to a very bad sore throat episode. But after a month, there was no pain and above all no snoring. Bettyann attests that the unbearable snoring has stopped and Rich is sleeping 7 to 8 hours a night. With enough sleep hours, Rich is already performing his best during day time. Rich’s quality of life has drastically changed for the better. If Rich did not undergo the procedure, he was at risk for developing heart problems, hypertension, heat diseases and diabetes. Now, Bettyann can sleep well too knowing that Rich is safe from these illnesses. It is now quite in the Davis’ bedroom.
Requirements to undergo such surgery include a sleep study to show the severity of the sleep apnea. Physicians would also evaluate the airway whether the base of the tongue is one of the reasons for the disorder. After evaluation and it proves that the cause is indeed found at the tongue base then the tissue can be removed using the daVinci Robot. There are no known complications of the daVinci Robot surgery except the usual ones caused by surgery like bleeding.
