Does Sinus and/or Nasal Surgery Help with Sleep Apnea?

In this study, 3 groups of patients were looked at divided into patients with mild, moderate, or severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These patients underwent sinus surgery, septoplasty, and turbinate reduction.

What was found was that patients with severe OSA with a mean AHI of 52 would go down to 43 (normal being less than 5) after surgery. Moderate OSA with a mean AHI of 22 down to 20. Patients with mild OSA did not have any significant changes to AHI at all.

However,

Sino-nasal surgery may also help with CPAP compliance as lower pressures may be required to address OSA compared to before surgery. Why? Because the nasal passages are more open after surgery so it is easier to push air into lungs when using CPAP.

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49er

HI 49er. Way before CPAP, more than decade ago, I had several years of success getting my deviated septum fixed, plus a turbinate reduction. After awhile, maybe due to simply getting older, I had serious apnea symptoms come charging back. Loose skin inside the throat? Lazy tongue? Bad communication between the brain and body? Who can say at this point, and besides my autoCPAP solved the obstructive apnea like a charm... Centrals and PB (periodic breathing) issues were another whole story.

Sir N - just curious, since you had the septoplasty and turbinate reduction, why do you use a FFM mask? preference? or has the inability to breath through the come back?

Redonthehead wrote:Sir N - just curious, since you had the septoplasty and turbinate reduction, why do you use a FFM mask? preference? or has the inability to breath through the come back?

I actually went for a year using Swift FX nasal pillows, but over time I started to experience therapy pressure 'blowing back' into my larynx and past my tongue and into my mouth. An odd involuntary reaction to this pressure change made my throat sort of growl/rumble/ululate in an unpleasant and awakening manner. I also started getting earaches. Last year I switched to my Quattro FX FFM and now the pressure is always equalized between my sinuses and throat.

And to answer your next question : Taping my mouth didn't do a thing for that rumbling throat thing, nor did chinstraps keep my therapy pressure under control, mostly because my lips could still part enough to let some out air. . BTW, my earaches went away too. I really don't know why I don't get very much air thru my nose anymore... I guess I'll have to see a ENT some day and find out what the deal is. I'm only mildly prone to allergies. Like I said, I think it has to do with aging, general wear and tear etc. Hope that explains things