TORS robotic surgery cures sleep apnea at Somerset Medical Center
About Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring may be a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition caused by collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It has a significant negative impact on quality of life and can be very difficult to manage. Treatment options include nightly use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, use of oral devices, or surgery.
Common symptoms of OSA:
Consequences of untreated OSA
Snoring
Morning headaches
Daytime sleepiness
Irritability and memory loss
Increased incidence of stroke/sudden death
High blood pressure and heart disease
Major factor in automobile accidents
Decreased sexual drive
Weight gain
Our surgeons' view
What others are saying
Dr. Nancy Snyderman of the Today show featured Somerset Medical Center's curing of sleep apnea with robotic surgery. The procedures are performed by Dr. Adrianna Hekiert and Dr. Amy Lazar. Click on the video above to view.
TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a new minimally invasive, innovative surgical option for the treatment of OSA. The surgeon uses the robot to remove bulky obstructive tissue at the base of the tongue that interferes with breathing during sleep.
Patient Selection and Sleep Nasoendoscopy: A new accurate diagnostic procedure for apnea
A typical candidate for TORS has not had success with traditional medical and/or surgical management of OSA. Claustrophobic patients may not tolerate a CPAP mask and others with severe OSA continue to suffer symptoms of apnea despite mask use.
Patients first undergo a comprehensive examination, during which their sleep study is reviewed with the physician and the upper airway anatomy is inspected with a small camera. The next step is Sleep Nasoendoscopy or SNE - a new cutting-edge diagnostic technique used to identify the actual site of airway obstruction. Once sleep is induced with a light anesthetic, a flexible endoscope is passed into the upper airway and real time snoring and apnea are observed. The patient's unique anatomic pattern of upper airway collapse is localized. Obstruction may occur at one or more of the following sites: soft palate and tonsils, tongue base, epiglottis and sidewalls of the throat. This information is then used as an anatomic guide for appropriate surgical treatment. If airway blockage due to a large tongue base is confirmed, the patient is offered TORS.
Robotic Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Better exposure yields better results, fewer complications and faster recovery
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat OSA, you may be a candidate for TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS) - a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure.
The robotic system enables your doctor to perform this delicate operation with superior 3D vision, precision, dexterity and unparalleled access to the tongue base, an area of the airway often difficult to reach with conventional techniques. Unrecognized obstruction at the base of the tongue is thought to be a primary reason for high failure rate of conventional OSA surgery. During TORS, the surgeon remotely manipulates the small robotic instruments to safely widen the airway by precisely removing bulky tissue from the tongue base. The procedure takes about one hour and patients typically go home in one to two days. Full recovery is achieved in three weeks. Surgical results are determined with a sleep study three months post-operatively.
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient and procedure-specific.
Snoring may be a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea.
