Snoring is perceived as a noise of the respiratory system which is caused by the repeated vibration of the walls of the pharynx. In some cases, with snoring may coexist and the phenomenon of sleep apnea, in which the patient stops breathing during sleep. For snoring and sleep apnea treatment, when those conditions cause difficulties in the patient’s daily life, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is indicated.
Snoring: Causes
Snoring is caused due to both anatomical and predisposing factors. The anatomical causes responsible for snoring concern the narrowing of the upper respiratory tract, making nasal breathing difficult, scoliosis of the nasal septum, hypertrophic tonsils, the existence of adenoids or nasal polyps. Predisposing causes of snoring include increased body weight, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, male sex, advanced age. Snoring can in many cases be responsible for the manifestation of the phenomenon of sleep apnea, with complete obstruction of the airway.
Sleep apnea: What is it & What does it cause
In sleep apnea, breathing stops for about 10 seconds at repeated intervals while the patient sleeps. As the airway becomes narrowed or blocked, the normal flow of air to the lungs is obstructed. Hypertrophy of the pharynx and relaxation of the pharyngeal walls are largely responsible for the occurrence of sleep apnea. This specific condition causes annoying symptoms for the affected person, such as headaches, feeling of tiredness and sleepiness, behavioral disorders with exacerbation of discomfort and aggression and burden on the cardiovascular system. This particular syndrome is found both in childhood and in adulthood.
Snoring & Sleep apnea treatment: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
To treat this condition in childhood, it is recommended to remove the tonsils and adenoid glands. In adults, snoring and sleep apnea treatment is possible through uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, with the release of the air passage in the upper respiratory system. Through this particular procedure, ENT Surgeon in Athens Dr. Olga Papadopoulou removes part of the soft tissue in the area of the palate, which is located at the back of the neck. The arch of the pharynx widens, while at the same time the size of the uvula is reduced, a piece of soft tissue with a grape-like shape that hangs at the back of the palate.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: Surgical Process
More specifically, during the procedure the entire uvula or a part of it is removed to reduce its length, a part of the soft tissue of the palate, as well as part of the tissue from the lateral parts of the neck area. At the same time, a tonsillectomy is indicated, i.e. the removal of the tonsils or the reduction of their volume, if hypertrophy occurs and causes narrowing of the lateral walls of the pharynx, and the removal of the adenoid glands if they are still present.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. After the operation, it is recommended that the patient stay in the clinic for one night. Then, as the patient returns home, medication is administered and a special diet consisting of easy to swallow foods is followed to facilitate swallowing. The operation can also be performed using radio frequencies (RF) or Laser. Laser uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is performed under local anesthesia and offers a shorter recovery time and a faster return to daily activities, minimizing post-operative pain.