Which specialist can treat sleep apnea?

Which specialist can treat sleep apnea?

Pulmonologist. These doctors specialize in lungs. A pulmonologist can prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help you breathe at night. They can also diagnose you with any other lung conditions that could be affecting your sleep, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Can a CT scan detect sleep apnea?

Patients with sleep-disordered breathing often have physiologic and anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway that are demonstrable while awake. An ultrafast computed tomographic (CT) scanner was used to measure the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cross-sectional areas of 11 patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

What is the success rate of sleep apnea surgery?

Unfortunately, many patients cannot tolerate CPAP and seek surgical alternatives. The reported surgical success rates range between 25 and 100% with most studies achieving a 50-70% success rate. The severity of the sleep apnea, as well as the patient’s physical features influence the surgical success rate.

What is an alternative to a CPAP machine?

If CPAP isn’t for you, a few other OSA treatment options include: an oral appliance. bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) nasal valve therapy.

Can sleep apnea be treated without CPAP?

1. Oral Appliances. Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also those who can help with sleep apnea. Oral appliances such as mouthguards can help hold the tongue in place or ease the jaw forward, helping to keep the airway free and open.

Does sleep apnea show up in MRI?

In addition to history, physical examination, and polysomnogram (sleep study), all subjects will undergo DISE and MRI to characterize the pattern of obstruction….Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (MRI in OSA)

Does sleep apnea show on MRI?

Although polysomnography is the method used to confirm the diagnosis of OSA,( 2 ) CT and especially MRI have established themselves as important supporting methods in the clinical diagnosis, preoperative evaluation, and post-treatment follow-up of patients who do not respond well to initial therapy.

How painful is sleep apnea surgery?

It is performed only if weight loss, nasal medications, and nasal dilators do not help reduce snoring. You will be given general anesthesia through a tube (endotracheal tube) inserted in your mouth or nose. This makes you sleep throughout the surgery and makes the procedure painless for you.

When is surgery needed for sleep apnea?

If the patient cannot tolerate CPAP therapy or remains symptomatic despite compliance, surgical airway correction should be considered. Surgical interventions for OSA attempt to alleviate symptoms by improving the strength of the upper airway and lessening the severity of airway obstruction.