Make Peace with Your Sleep Mask (CPAP): Say Goodbye to High Pressure and Suffocation
Ağır uyku apnesi tedaviniz için verilen CPAP cihazını kullanmakta zorlanıyor, gece maskeyi fırlatıp atıyor veya yüksek hava basıncı yüzünden boğulacak gibi mi hissediyorsunuz? Hayatınızı kurtaran bu cihazı dolaba kaldırmayın. Burun ve boğazınızdaki anatomik darlıkları ufak cerrahi müdahalelerle açarak; maskenizi fısıltı kadar hafif, tolere edilebilir bir basınçla ve %100 uyumla kullanmanızı sağlıyoruz.
What is CPAP Adoption Surgery and Why Does it Save Lives?
One of the most definitive treatments for sleep apnea (OSAS) is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) devices. However, almost half of patients with severe apnea cannot use this device. This is because if there is a deviated septum, hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates, or a very sagging palate in the throat, the air blown by the device has to pass through a very narrow tunnel to reach the lungs. This resistance causes the device's pressure to increase exponentially, air to leak from the mask into the eyes, the stomach to fill with air, and the patient to wake up in panic. "CPAP Adaptation Surgery" is not performed to eliminate severe apnea completely; it is performed to remove these "physical barriers" in the airway, allowing the device to operate at a much lower, gentler, and more comfortable pressure. In this way, the patient comfortably returns to their primary treatment (the device) that prevents heart attacks.
- Those diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP device but unable to comply with it.
- Those whose eyes dry out due to constant air leakage from the mask because of high device pressure.
- People who feel like they are suffocating and cannot breathe when wearing a mask due to nasal congestion.
- Patients who unknowingly remove the mask from their face while sleeping at night.
- Those who wake up in the mornings with their stomachs full of air blown by the device (bloating) and their mouths completely dry.
Putting the device away in a cupboard isn't the solution; adapting the airway to be compatible with the mask is essential.
Hundreds of patients come to my clinic considering returning their devices, saying, "Doctor, I can't sleep with this machine; I feel suffocated." For a patient with severe sleep apnea, giving up their device is a silent invitation to high blood pressure and a heart attack. My approach as Dr. Nurten Küçük is not to force my patient to struggle with the machine, but to find out why they cannot tolerate it. Usually, the problem is very clear: a narrow nose or a loose palate! With a small nasal cartilage correction or radiofrequency procedure, we remove that barrier. The result? My patient, who used to suffocate under the mask with 12-14 pressure points, now falls into a deep sleep with a whisper-level pressure of 5-6, forgetting even that the mask is there.
Endoscopic Resistance Analysis
Your nasal and throat airways are examined with a camera to map, down to the millimeter, where the air from the CPAP device encounters resistance (barriers).
Nose and Palate Modification
Most often, nasal turbinates are reduced in size, cartilage deformities (deviations) are corrected, or the palate is tightened with radiofrequency to smooth the passage through which the mask air passes.
Low Pressure New Life
Cerrahiden birkaç hafta sonra (iyileşme bitince) CPAP cihazınızın basınç ayarları (titrasyon) yeniden yapılır. Çoğu hastada basınç yarı yarıya düşer ve %100 cihaz uyumu (kompliyans) sağlanır.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I have nasal or palate surgery, will I be able to completely get rid of the CPAP mask?
If you have very severe sleep apnea (high AHI score) or significant obesity, the goal of these surgeries is not to completely eliminate the need for a mask. The primary aim is to remove the obstructions, making your mask "comfortable" rather than "unbearable" (reducing pressure). However, in some patients with mild or moderate apnea, depending on their anatomical structure, it may be possible to completely eliminate the device after surgery.
When I wear a mask, my stomach fills with air and I get a lot of gas. Would surgery help with this?
Absolutely yes. Aerophagia (air filling the stomach) occurs when the device blows air at excessively high pressure to overcome a blockage in your nose, allowing the air to reach your lungs. The pressurized air cannot pass through the nose and changes direction, filling your stomach via the esophagus. When your nasal passage is surgically opened, the device's pressure drops, and the air begins to flow directly to the lungs (where it should be), instead of the stomach.
What exactly are the procedures used to relieve nasal congestion?
The most common procedures we perform are correction of the deviated cartilage and bone in the middle of the nose (septoplasty) and reduction of nasal turbinates that swell and block airflow using radio waves (concha radiofrequency). These procedures are usually performed entirely through the nostrils, leaving no external scars.
Can I use my CPAP device again immediately the night after the procedure?
For the first few days after nasal surgery, using your device may be difficult or inconvenient because you will have special silicone supports in your nose or swelling (edema) from the operation. Your doctor will likely recommend pausing the device for a few days or switching to a different type of mask. As the swelling subsides, you will be able to return to using your device with much lower and more comfortable pressure.
Take the first step towards an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment.
For an initial consultation, examination, and personalized treatment plan, please contact us immediately.