A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Non-CPAP Forum 22
Archived Posting


Archived Non-CPAP Forum 22 viewing only. To post go to the Apnea Forum Homepage.

Re: Tongue Base Surgery

Posted by seattlebill on September 07, 2007 at 15:53:20:

In Reply to: Tongue Base Surgery posted by CONSIDERING MMA SURGERY on September 07, 2007 at 12:50:42:

Well...

To be fair... there are no free lunches in medicine ! Anything (every drug, device, procedure ) has side-effects and complications.

The more extensive the procedure, the more risks and side effects involved. The MMA certainly has those. If it didn't, we wouldn't all be here discussing it. All of us who have had an MMA have had a side-effect or complication of the MMA.

BUT, we underwent the procedure after extensive vetting, publications in tow, and many of us having spoken with others who already had the procedure.

On one hand, your surgeon could have developed the next best thing since the ipod ! In two years, he could publish a wonderful peer-reviewed paper describing this procedure and the results. In my opinion, wait for that paper.

Alternatively, ask him for...the technical name of the procedure (tongue surgery means nothing to us...it could be a GA, somnoplasty, somnoplasty variant, partial glossectomy, or something new). See if it is referenced anywhere. Ask for 2 or 3 of his patients to talk to about the procedure ( it is legal under HIPPA if they consent to do so, and are willing discussants). See if any other surgeons perform this exact procedure. 100 patients can't be the total experience in the medical community for this technique. If it is, it is NOT enough.

I would never be the first (or last) to sign up for or use a new procedure. If 100 people had it done, how many had significant improvement in documented follow up sleep studies ??? I know that all 100 survived, and 5 had minor infections. That's not the point. The thing you want to know are the real scientific odds that it will work...or the odds that at the very least it won't harm you or make your OSA worse (like some people experienced with a UP3 or LAUP).

And, how was he rated one of the best ??? There is no such rating. All of those local magazines that tell you about the 100 best doctors in "x" city are nothing but popularity contests. They are not factoring in solid data...other than subjective opinions in the local community (which could come from classmates from residency, referring docs, etc...). Hospitals with rankings like that factor in solid data from nationally selected parameters. "Best doctors" only speak to the fact that they have passed their boards and practice locally.

I understand that your OSA needs treatment. And, evidently CPAP isn't going to work. But, I would either get further opinions or wait for more evidence about this procedure to come through. Asking him for more information might be ok, but is far from the kind of solid information that inspires confidence in a new treatment that isn't emergently needed.

Good luck,

Bill

Follow Ups:


Archived Non-CPAP Forum22 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use. The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes. Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.

Copyright ©1995-2008 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved