Surgery Options for OSA patients

[cotrina]

Hi Myron,
I feel very much related to your post. I will try to cut a very long story short. When I had the DISE done it showed the main blockage is produced by the base of my tongue (as well as some neck structure issues but mainly my tongue). Several ENT Specialists had different views whether or not I was the right candidate for ENT surgery namely expansion or lateral pharingoplasty. However it was a highly expert Maxillofacial Specialist (also Head and Neck Surgeon and Sleep Specialist) who after watching the DISE pointed out the need of a genioglossus advancement and expansion pharingoplasty. The conservative approach was to try to lose quite a lot if weight and maybe try one of those mandibular advancement tools.

Conclusion: I am trying to lose weight and have surgery scheduled for the end of November. It will be a septoplasty and turbinoplasty to try to help me with my chronic rhinitis problem and septum problem. Hoping that it might help me perhaps a little bit with my OSA AHI but I prefer not to expect too much.

[MyronH]

Hi Myron,
I feel very much related to your post. I will try to cut a very long story short. When I had the DISE done it showed the main blockage is produced by the base of my tongue (as well as some neck structure issues but mainly my tongue). Several ENT Specialists had different views whether or not I was the right candidate for ENT surgery namely expansion or lateral pharingoplasty. However it was a highly expert Maxillofacial Specialist (also Head and Neck Surgeon and Sleep Specialist) who after watching the DISE pointed out the need of a genioglossus advancement and expansion pharingoplasty. The conservative approach was to try to lose quite a lot if weight and maybe try one of those mandibular advancement tools.

Conclusion: I am trying to lose weight and have surgery scheduled for the end of November. It will be a septoplasty and turbinoplasty to try to help me with my chronic rhinitis problem and septum problem. Hoping that it might help me perhaps a little bit with my OSA AHI but I prefer not to expect too much.

Losing weight did not help me. I lost 30lbs since last year. My apneas are still the same. I'm a tall guy 6'1" and now only 210lbs, so not really overweight. Yet still have obstructions. I'm getting another opinion from another ENT here soon on other procedures.

[cotrina]

For me losing weight is quite a difficult thing and I am overweight. The thing is if I do not get down to my right weight I will never know really how bad is really the base of my tongue or my neck structure are affecting my sleep apnea. I would prefer not to have any 'serious' ENT oral surgery until I I am on my right bodyweight and i know my AHI and maybe after doing another DISE  The septoplasty/turbinoplasty are more aimed at my sinus/rhinitis/asthma problems but who knows? It might also be beneficial for my Sleep Apnea.