Transoral robotic surgery for obstructive sleep apnea: the US experience

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery, Tongue Surgery.

The idea of removing tongue tissue as a surgical procedure to treat obstructive sleep apnea dates back to Shiro Fujita, MD and a 1991 publication.  Multiple technologies have been used to perform lingual tonsillectomy and midline glossectomy procedures,.  The challenge has been finding a technology that allows the procedure to be performed well without making… Read more »

Learn About Two of My Patients Who Were Affected by Sleep Apnea and Retired Their CPAP Machines

Posted by & filed under Palate Surgery, Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

While sleep apnea mostly affects men, women (especially those who are hoping to become pregnant) are at risk too. Learn about Jose’s and Rachel’s road to recovery. I love writing about the latest research related to the surgical evaluation and treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Research studies are important, but sometimes it is… Read more »

What if my drug-induced sleep endoscopy shows I am not a good candidate for Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation?

Posted by & filed under Palate Surgery, Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

Inspire Medical’s Upper Airway Stimulation therapy is a treatment option for many patients with obstructive sleep apnea who do not tolerate positive airway pressure therapy (for example, CPAP).  There are a few steps to determining whether a patient is a good candidate, including performing drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).  If you are interested in more background… Read more »

Are you a good candidate for Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation if you have not responded to other sleep apnea surgery?

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery, Tongue Surgery.

Over the past 15-20 years of my own career, research and experience have dramatically improved results of sleep apnea surgery.  For example, we have recently published an international research study showing that drug-induced sleep endoscopy can guide the selection of procedures and whether someone is a good or less-ideal candidate for surgery.  In spite of… Read more »

Does expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty treat oropharyngeal lateral wall-related obstruction in OSA?

Posted by & filed under Palate Surgery, Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

Recently, our international, multicenter study examining drug-induced sleep endoscopy and surgery outcomes in those with obstructive sleep apnea but without markedly enlarged tonsils was published in the medical journal Laryngoscope.  I have written on this blog about the research findings and the implications for sleep surgery and the decisions that sleep apnea surgeons make for their… Read more »

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy findings are associated with results of sleep apnea surgery

Posted by & filed under Palate Surgery, Sleep Apnea, Surgery, Tongue Surgery.

Before performing any surgery, it is important to collect information that can help in making decisions about what type of surgery to have and what the results of surgery might be.  Sleep apnea surgery is no different.  Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an evaluation that can be performed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are considering… Read more »

Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation Not Working for Your Sleep Apnea?

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery, Tongue Surgery.

  Inspire Medical’s Upper Airway Stimulation technology is a powerful (no pun intended) addition to the array of options for individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.  As a surgeon who implants this therapy, I see patients (whether my own or those coming for a second opinion) where Upper Airway Stimulation is not working well.  While… Read more »

Snoring YouTube Videos: 12 Steps and Snoring Surgery

Posted by & filed under Snoring, Surgery.

Snoring is common, with estimates suggesting that it affects 100 million adults (and anyone bothered by that snoring) in the United States alone.  Whenever I share what I do at work, there is a pause before that person either volunteers that they have been told they snore or mention that they want me to meet… Read more »