Doctors at a city hospital have performed a rare surgery to correct Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The surgery uses a new technique called coblation and is recommended by the American Sleep Society for cases of OSA where the base of the tongue obstructs the air passage during sleep. The surgery has been successfully done for the first time in the country, hospital sources claim.
Dr Ranjini Raghavan, senior consultant ENT surgeon at Sunrise Hospital, who performed the surgery on a 35-year-old businessman from Aluva said the midline glossectomy (excising tissue from the back of the tongue to reduce its thickness) is the latest and most effective method to correct severe OSA. The thickness of the tongue is reduced through a procedure known as coblation, where tissue is ablated at lower temperature with less tissue damage.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Raghavan said, “Although surgeries on the nose and palate are done, not many attempt surgeries on the tongue which is a major component of obstruction in OSA. And many surgeries may be a failure. The major constraint is the fear of complications like damage to taste buds, post-operative swelling causing airway obstruction, damage to the tongue and profuse bleeding.”
“There is lack of awareness about OSA and its risk factors. Studies show that people with long-term OSA have increased chances for hypertension, diabetes and cardiac problems. Lack of concentration, excessive daytime sleepiness, early morning headache, irritability, depression and memory loss are common among OSA patients," Dr Raghavan added.