What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA for short, occurs when soft tissues in the airway collapse during sleep and block the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then the body falls back asleep.
This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death.
Don’t Go Untreated
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a variety of quality of life and health issues, including:
- Daytime fatigue
- Weight gain
- Diminished productivity
- Accidents
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
Treatment Options
While CPAP is generally the first treatment option for OSA, it isn’t for everyone.
Some patients struggle with CPAP due to:
- Mask discomfort
- Dry mouth or nose
- Claustrophobia
- Poor sleep quality
If you’ve tried CPAP without success, you are not alone. There are effective alternatives available from our team at PCI ENT to help you feel rested again.
Finding the right treatment starts with understanding why a patient has sleep apnea.
We offer innovative airway exams which identify the root causes of sleep apnea and your best treatment options.
Sleep Treatment Alternatives
Once you have undergone an airway exam, your sleep surgeon can discuss the various surgical treatment options offered at PCI:
Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation
Inspire®
- A small implant that delivers gentle pulses to your airway muscles so you can breathe regularly while you sleep. Controlled by a handheld remote.
PCI is the only Inspire Center of Excellence in Eastern Iowa
PCI is the only medical clinic in the Midwest offering Genio.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
PCI is the only center in Iowa offering novel tissue sparing expansion techniques that result in less risk and downtime.
Nasal Surgery
- Septoplasty or turbinate reduction to improve nasal airflow, as well as Latera® and VivAer ®.
PCI offers in-office treatment options.
Hyoid Suspension (Airlift® )
- Moves and secures a small bone in your neck (the hyoid bone) to help keep your airway open during sleep.
PCI treats the most patients in the Midwest.
NightLase Laser Treatment (Fotana)
- Gently tightens oral tissue to reduce sleep apnea symptoms and lessen snoring by contracting collagen in the mucosa.
- Requires no systemic anesthesia.
Our board-certified sleep surgeons bring advanced training and deep experience in treating sleep-related breathing disorders.
With a personalized, patient-first approach, they design custom treatment plans that help you breathe easier and sleep better.