Airway Surgery

Surgery on the upper airway may be necessary in order to help chronic sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea for whom other, less-invasive treatments have proven unsuccessful. Children most commonly experience problems with a narrowed windpipe due to injury, infection, acid reflux, a birth defect or due to a breathing tube. Adults usually develop a breathing problem due to the same reasons, but a disease can also be the cause, resulting in damaged blood vessels or tissue inflammation. Depending on where the obstruction is located, your doctor may operate on the jaw, soft palate, pharynx or sinus cavity. Some of these procedures may include maxillary-mandibular advancement, somnoplasty, nasal surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or a tracheotomy. Each procedure is geared toward the patient’s plan of care in order to achieve optimal results and may be combined with other therapies to help aid in healing.