Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

ABSTRACT
- THE PRIMARY TREATMENT for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, but the minimum acceptable number of hours of nightly CPAP use remains unclear.
- INTEGRATED SOFT TISSUE and bone surgery may be a viable alternative for patients who have rejected CPAP as a treatment option. Formal sleep testing has shown that surgery and CPAP therapy are equally successful at resolving OSA.
- REPEAT SLEEP TESTING conducted several years after patients have undergone combined soft tissue and bone surgery has demonstrated consistent and reliable surgical results. Patients with OSA should be offered surgery as an alternative to lifelong CPAP treatment or as an option when CPAP therapy has not been successful. AORN J 82 (September 2005) 372-391.