Surgery

For some people, surgery may help improve sleep apnea, depending on the cause. The main objective of surgery is to increase the size of the upper airway, to make breathing easier. A deviated nasal septum can be fixed, or enlarged adenoids or tonsils can be removed. Removal of adenoids and tonsils is the most common treatment for children with sleep apnea.

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More extensive surgery can also be performed, e.g., remodeling the air passages in the throat by removing the uvula, tonsils, and part of the soft palate (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty). This surgery appears to be more effective at treating loud snoring than improving sleep apnea. However, it can help some people.

If no other treatment works, another surgical option is making an opening in the throat to bypass the upper airway (tracheostomy). Air passes through a tube inserted in the opening and into the lungs. When this operation is performed for sleep apnea, the patient keeps the tube covered during the day and opens it at night so air can flow freely during sleep.

Other possible surgeries include jaw remodeling or surgery for obesity, such as gastric bypass surgery.

Your doctor will help you decide if surgery is an option for you.