CPAP is effective in almost all patients, and rapidly reverses the sleep fragmentation and EDS, but many patients find it uncomfortable and claustrophobic. There are other side effects, such as nasal congestion, dry mouth and headaches. It must be used every night for life to be effective, and many patients discontinue its use. Other therapies rely on diagnosis of where in the airway obstruction is occurring, so that treatment can be directed to the problem area. The difficulty in treating many patients is that obstruction can occur in multiple areas.
Treatment is a progression of procedures, with the most severe areas addressed first.
UPPP requires overnight hospitalization and general anesthesia, whereas the LAUP is done in the office with mild sedation. Both are associated with significant postoperative discomfort and recovery time. It has been approved by the FDA to treat snoring, but is not adequate treatment for most sleep apnea patients. Somnoplasty is performed in the office under local anesthesia or mild sedation. Many sleep apnea patients have obstruction at the base of the tongue.