New treatment for sleep apnea???

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:20 am

I am doing a presentation for my neuropsychology class on sleep apnea. My father suffers from sleep apnea. When I was home, I came across an article about a new treatment for sleep apnea. It was some type of surgery in which rods ( I think) are placed in the throat. Scar tissue forms, which is the goal... the scar tissue holds open the airways so that the throat cannot close in on itself and prevent breathing. I have no idea what this is called and no idea if I am remembering it correctly. (I was not planning on presenting on sleep apnea when I came across this article). My parents do not remember seeing the article and have no idea what I am talking about. But it sounded really interesting and I want to know more!

If anyone has any idea about what I am trying to talk about, please let me know. I need to know the specifics in order to present it in class as an upcoming possiblility in treatment for sleep apnea.

Thanks for you help!

InTheDark · Post by **InTheDark** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 2:01 am

It's called the pillar implant treatment. Try this web site http://pillarprocedure.com/
Good luck with your presentation!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:14 am

Here's some interesting info about a person who recently had a sleep study to check his results with after having had the the Pillar Procedure done:

Sleep study results from Pillar Procedure

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:23 am

Rested Gal,

Thanks oodles for that cross-posted link. Lots of good info in that single message thread.

-Jeff

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:56 am

Thank you all for your help!!!

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:43 am

Interesting statistic from the lecture in DC.

Surgery in general is 25% effective. The only treatment that is truly effective is CPAP.

Personally I would not want to try anything until the success rate is much higher. I know some of us are really desperate to get therapy to work, but don't jump at a solution too quickly as some procedures cause problems with CPAP later on (which in a lot of the cases you end up on ANYWAY) Yes there are exceptions, but the odds are NOT in your favor.

This particular procedure is one of the least invasive but is NOT a cureall by any means. It is not indicated in patients that are obese (bmi > 30) and even if you meet the weight criteria, you still might not be eligible due to your specific oral anatomy. Now, if you are in the group that can be treated, it has about a 50% success rate. Another 25% saw only a reduction in apneas.

(information quoted from Wake-Up Call Winter 2005 - American Sleep Apnea Association)

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:35 pm

I had also attended the lecture mentioned by Mikesus.

This is only anecdotal, and does not refer to the above-mentioned surgery, but at the lecture I sat next to a man who had had several surgeries in his throat to try and correct for sleep apnea. He admitted that the doctors weren'n any good and were quick to recommend surgery first. I forget the type of surgery, but the man told me it simply didn't work. And worse, he has lingering effects that can be felt whenever he swallows. He regrets the surgeries. And cpap therapy now works well for him. He is an older gentleman, who said he lamented waiting for so long for this diagnosis and treatment.

So, I too caution against surgery, at least not without careful thought and having exhausted all available forms of treatment.

Linda

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:47 pm

On the TAS board I seem to remember several people saying after a few months their implants weren't successful, and another who had to have one or two reimplanted, and taking the ones that were coming out was not easy.

The Uvula, etc removal can cause you to aspirate fluids when you swallow liquids, cause dry food to stick in your throat and other things, too from what I've been told by many. Not to mention that you are on liquid diet for 2 weeks with an EXTREMELY sore throat and no one in their right mind will recommend a tonsilectomy for an adult because of the severity of the surgery and recovery. My ENT guaranteed me at least a 10 pound weight loss on that liquid diet. I've heard some have the sore throat much longer than 2 weeks.

Sleeping With The Enemy · Post by **Sleeping With The Enemy** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:41 pm

My visit to the ENT the other day proved this. He was a very honest guy.

He said that even if I lose weigh and had the surgery I would probably still need the CPAP. He told me I have a "thick neck" and that the airway size has more to do with OSA than anything in my case anyway. He said that the airway size can be genetic. So if you have a family member with OSA, your chances of getting it are pretty good. He also said that it usually doesn't show up until you are in your 30's or 40's.

But he stressed to make CPAP work because in people who have severe OSA, like I do--surgery just isn't successful!

BUMMER--LOOKS LIKE I'M HOOKING UP WITH THIS BABY FOR THE LONG HAUL!!

JerryR · Post by **JerryR** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:25 pm

I do not have a good understanding of the numbers nor do I yet know what mine were from the two sleep studies I had - I'm still trying to get my hands on the reports. About the only thing I learned after repeatedly asking a tech the morning following my initial sleep study, is that my oxygen level drops to the upper 60's. I had also planned to spend the following day at the sleep center so they could observe me and have me nap every couple of hours. Heck, they could put a camera in my office to see this! The techs apparently saw all they needed to during the night because they cancelled the daytime part of the study. My diagnosis was severe OSA.
Enough of my rambling. Regarding the Pillar procedure, from what I saw and read, would it be a fair statement to make that the procedure would have the most chance for success for those with mild to moderate OSA and probably not those of us with severe OSA?

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:44 pm

Pillar has a few restrictions one of them is BMI (which measures % of fat) and the other is structural. It is difficult to make sweeping generalizations saying that if you have mild apnea it will treat you better than someone severe. It is possible that someone that is mild might not see any reduction, while someone who is severe might see a substantial reduction. Unfortunately for most it is not a cure, and only improves OSDB/OSA. If I were you, I would focus on becoming 100% compliant, as that is the only PROVEN method to "cure" OSBD/OSA.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 6:40 pm

While I'm very well treated and quite comfortable with my autopap treatment, and am not looking to go for the Pillar procedure or try a TAP II, I am interested in hearing about other methods of dealing with OSA. There are some people who just never are going to get along with a machine/mask, no matter how hard they try. Other methods that don't involve extensive surgery might be good things for them to look into.

Here's another interesting recent thread on TAS about those alternate treatments:

Mar 31 2005 subject: ENT shoots down Pillar procedure for mild apnea

Posts by PaulY and Sleepy Stoboy are always interesting. They have researched Pillar and TAP thoroughly and have been having full PSG sleep studies all along the way to check how the procedure and the dental device are working.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:19 pm

That is great that he had success, unfortunately from what I have read, he is the exception, not the rule... As of right now, the only TRULY effective treatment is CPAP, and ALL efforts should be to being compliant... Some day we might have a better solution, but until there is something that has a higher success rate, I will be a hosehead...

texastal · Post by **texastal** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:32 am

I had the pillar procedure done in Duncanville Texas. They inserted the pillars in the roof of my mounth, and nothing. The Dr Says I am too over weight. WHY did he not tell me it would not work? On a scale of 1 to 10 pillars are a zero !

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:02 am

I wouldn't have it performed simply for the fact of resulting scar tissue! Scar tissue is painful, and some people produce more of it than others. I'd pass on that procedure, especially with its "success rate" and the permanent results that are more harmful .