PILLAR PROCEDURE

Has anyone had this procedure done? Excerpt from http://www.restoremedical.com

How the Pillar Procedure works

The Pillar Procedure addresses one of the anatomical components of sleep apnea and snoring: the soft palate. During the Pillar Procedure, three tiny woven inserts are placed in the soft palate to help reduce the vibration that causes snoring and the ability of the soft palate to obstruct the airway. Once in place, the inserts add structural support to the soft palate. Over time, the body's natural tissue response to the inserts increases the structural integrity of the soft palate.

Pillar inserts are made of material used in implantable medical devices for more than 50 years. They are designed to be invisible, and should not be felt or interfere with swallowing or speech. Many patients resume normal diet and activities the same day.

Frustrated with CPAP and other surgical options?

If you've been diagnosed with OSA, or are frustrated with CPAP treatment, ask your physician about the Pillar Procedure. Success with the Pillar Procedure can be influenced by tongue position, tonsil size and other factors. Your physician can give you more information and determine whether the Pillar Procedure is right for you.
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I've read about it through the links rested gal provided, but wondered if anyone on this forum has done this. I'm going to see if I'm a candidate who would benefit from it... if so, I'm going for it!!!

I'm importing Pillar stuff from another thread where you wouldn't know to look for it!

Janelle
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject:

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Those considering the Pillar procedure. Remember it treats only one aspect of OSA, the soft palate laxity. It does not do a thing for enlarged tonsils or uvula, enlarged adenoids or deviated septums, all of which are also factors in OSA. Not to mention the tongue relaxing and falling back, too.

FACT: Treatment with CPAP (according to my ENT who is trying to talk me into surgery) will allow the soft palate to regain much if not all of its normal firmness since what caused the laxity in the first place was the vibration of snoring. With CPAP you are no longer snoring so you soft palate is given a chance to "heal". now, if you normally have a rather small oral cavity, that soft palate is going to be low no matter what you do short of surgery to remove tissue. IF you really want to go through all that pain, etc.

My ENT is re-evaluating me and my soft-palate this coming week at my verification with her that the CPAP could resolve that aspect. I think it is quite a bit firmer myself. So, if I HAD gotten the Pillar procedure what would it have proven?

And just toughing up the soft palate does not mean you still don't need CPAP. It may just lessen or do away with snoring, which may or may not mean a darn thing.
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I wrote:
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject:
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Thanks, Janelle. I've been researching this for a couple months now. I realize it is not a CURE, but a treatment for just one form (retropalatal) of obstruction. If my big problem is tongue obstruction, then it sounds like the Pillar Procedure won't do any good.

What I keep coming back to from a Talk About Sleep message board is that with a combination of surgery and use of a dental device , people have been able to stop CPAP therapy. If it were possible, I would much prefer to wear a dental device to bed every night than my CPAP equipment!

Anyway, it is very minor surgery, wide awake, sitting in a dentist's chair, over in a matter of minutes. It is also reversible. So if I'm a candidate for the surgery, I don't see how I can go wrong!