In extreme cases where there is no other solution, a person may have to go in for snoring surgery to cure his snoring malady.

There are a variety of procedures of surgery and the one suited to you will be determined by the doctor after doing a thorough assessment of the extent of your problem.

The basic idea of all the procedures though is to remove excess tissues from the airways enabling you to breathe more freely.

Somnoplasty Snoring Surgery

Somnoplasty is a snoring surgery approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat three conditions: Habitual snoring, chronic nasal obstruction, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

This procedure uses radio frequency (RF) energy to shrink the problem creating tissues.

Somnoplasty is a procedure lasting for about 30 to 45 minutes and is just an out-patient procedure.

This procedure is done under local anaesthesia where an electrode is used to deliver RF energy under the tissue surface. This electrode provides a controlled, low-power RF which creates coagulative lesions beneath the mucosa of the areas to be treated.

Some of the targeted areas are -

• Turbinates for chronic nasal obstruction
• The soft palate and uvula for habitual snoring
• The base of the tongue for obstructive sleep apnea

The lesions are restored naturally after a period of 6-8 weeks thereby reducing the volume of the tissues by stiffening them. This enlarges the airway allowing free flow of air. Patient has to go through follow up treatments though.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) Snoring Surgery

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP, is a snoring surgery which removes the uvula and all or part of the soft palate.

This surgery when performed using a laser is referred to as "LASUPPP" for short by the doctors. This procedure when done helps stop snoring or sleep apnea.

After UPPP, the throat usually swells. In order to widen the airway, surgeon may have to insert a tracheotomy tube in your throat through an incision in the neck.

Alternatively, an endotracheal (ET) tube may be passed through your nose or mouth and down the throat. Once the swelling subsides, the tube is removed.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

Tonsils are usually located at the back of the mouth on the side of the throat. They are small, round pieces of tissue.

Tonsils are considered normally to fight antibodies thereby reducing infection.

Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils become inflamed from infection.

This inflammation also blocks the passage thereby causing the person to snore.

Adenoids are lymph tissues located in the space which is above the soft roof of the mouth. Adenoids are quite similar to tonsils.

Though Adenoids also help to fight infections, they cause many problems including snoring when they become infected or enlarged.

The reasons for going through tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

surgery is not well defined. Surgeons differ in their viewpoints.

The following are usually the reasons for a surgeon to recommend tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy -

• sleep apnea which causes difficulty of breathing at night
• problem with swallowing
• tumour in the throat or nasal passage
• bleeding from the tonsils that cannot be stopped
• significant blockage of the nasal passage and uncomfortable breathing

Nasal septoplasty

The Nasal Septoplasty is a snoring surgery which is generally performed on an outpatient basis with IV sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. A small incision is created inside the nose and cartilage and bone is inspected and specifically treated appropriately.

Bony spurs are trimmed or removed if present. The cartilage is morselized and straightened back to its original position.

Bone is also manipulated to the center to achieve reasonable straightening and better nasal airflow. Sometimes small splints are placed internally to support the septum. These are removed simply in a few days time. Packing is not required.

Nasal septoplasty is commonly performed with other procedures. The most common procedures include turbinate reductive surgery for additional improvement in nasal breathing; also endoscopic sinus surgery is quite common to achieve improvement for chronic sinusitis.

Reconstructive or cosmetic rhinoplasty is often performed at the same time as septoplasty depending on each individual's needs.

After septoplasty individuals usually go home the same day. There is a mild discomfort in the nasal area for 24 to 36 hours after the procedure.

Oral pain killers are generally effective in reducing postoperative discomfort. Ice packs are placed around the nose and cheek area for alleviation of the mild discomfort.

Individuals are able to resume reasonable activities after three to four days and can go back to work after five to seven days. Nasal irrigations and nasal supplemental steroid sprays are used continuously until the

healing process is complete.

Nasal Polypectomy

Nasal polyps are another common condition seen in the nose. There exact cause is not known but they represent the end point of an inflammatory process, which affects the whole of the nose and sinuses.

A polyp is a protrusion of the lining of the sinuses into the nose, treatment therefore requires the underlying inflammatory condition be identified and treated as well as possible mechanical removal of a polyp if it is causing obstruction either to the nose or to the sinuses.

Surgery therefore is not an alternative to medical management but only one part of the treatment. Sometimes small polyps can be removed easily in out patients under local anesthetic, however often they require removal under general anesthetic.

There are various ways of removing these, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages and the preference of each individual surgeon has some part to play.

As with all nasal operations or snoring surgery you must try and avoid any form of packing although this is occasionally necessary. Post operative nasal douching is often very comforting and one must never forget the long-term medical management of the inflammatory process underlying the condition.