Surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea.

The pathology associated with obstructive sleep apnea is cumulative and progressive. When patients fail to improve with continuous nasal airway pressure or other, less-invasive treatments, surgery should be considered. The initial approach to the surgical patient is identification of all areas of potential obstruction. There are often several sites of obstruction, which can occur anywhere in the upper respiratory tract. One or more procedures may be needed to address these areas. The objective of surgery is to relieve these obstructing sites without interfering with the normal functionality of the upper airway.