How is Robotic Surgery Applied in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs as a result of repeated blockages of the airways during sleep. This condition not only significantly reduces the quality of life of patients, but can also lead to serious health problems such as heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes. Treatment options such as traditional surgical methods and CPAP may not provide sufficient results in some patients. At this point, robotic surgery comes into play in the treatment of sleep apnea. Robotic surgery offers minimally invasive approaches, allowing for more precise and effective interventions. Especially in cases where surgical intervention is difficult due to anatomical structures, robotic surgery ensures safe removal of obstructions by maximizing the surgeon’s control and visual field. This advanced technological method aims to shorten the recovery time and minimize the risks of complications.

In Which Situations Can Robotic Surgery Be Used in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea?

robotic surgery, sleep apnea It is a preferred method in the treatment of patients with certain anatomical disorders or obstructions. This sleep disorder usually occurs as a result of abnormal growth or prolapse of upper airway structures such as the base of the tongue, soft palate, uvula or tonsils. These structures cause breathing difficulties by narrowing or completely blocking the airway. Robotic surgery is used to target these structures more precisely and effectively. Robotic surgery may be recommended especially in the following cases:

• Tongue Root Hypertrophy: Overgrowth of the base of the tongue is a common contributing factor to sleep apnea. This area, which is difficult to access with traditional methods, can be intervened more easily and safely thanks to robotic surgery.
• Prolapse of Soft Palate: Prolapse of the soft palate and uvula can obstruct the airway, causing sleep apnea. Robotic surgery is used to reshape or shrink these structures.
• Tonsil and Adenoid Enlargement: Especially in children and some adults, excessive growth of tonsils and adenoids can narrow the airways and lead to sleep apnea. Removal or reduction of these tissues can be done more precisely with robotic surgery.

Robotic surgery offers a minimally invasive approach in these cases, reducing the risks of complications and shortening recovery time. It also increases the efficiency of the procedure by offering the surgeon a wider field of view and higher precision. However, not every patient may be a suitable candidate for robotic surgery. Therefore, the necessity and appropriateness of surgical intervention should be determined by evaluating each patient’s individual situation.

Who Can Have Robotic Surgery in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea?

Robotic surgery is not a method applicable to every patient in the treatment of sleep apnea. It is suitable for patients who meet certain criteria. This surgical intervention is preferred for patients who cannot get adequate results from classical treatment methods such as CPAP or intraoral appliances and who anatomically need surgical intervention. Listed below are the patient groups for whom robotic surgery can be applied in the treatment of sleep apnea:

• Patients with Sleep Apnea Due to Anatomical Obstruction: The main cause of sleep apnea is anatomical disorders that occur in the upper respiratory tract. In particular, conditions such as tongue root hypertrophy, soft palate prolapse, and overgrowth of tonsils or adenoids are among the suitable candidates for robotic surgery. In these patients, robotic surgery allows precise and effective removal of obstructions.
• Patients Who Cannot Get Satisfactory Results from Other Treatment Methods: Standard treatment methods such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) may not have sufficient effect in every patient. Surgical options come to the fore especially for patients who cannot use or tolerate these methods. Robotic surgery is considered an alternative treatment for this group of patients.
• Patients Who Do Not Respond to Weight Loss and Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss and lifestyle changes have an important place in the treatment of sleep apnea. However, correction of anatomical structures may be necessary in patients whose apnea severity does not decrease despite such changes. In this case, robotic surgery is considered among the surgical treatment options.
• Patients with Severe or Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea can be graded as mild, moderate or severe. Especially patients with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea need surgical intervention more often. Robotic surgery is a method that can achieve successful results in these patients.

Although robotic surgery is an effective method, it may not be suitable for every patient. When deciding on surgical intervention, the patient’s general health condition, the severity of apnea, the location of the obstruction, and the patient’s suitability for surgery should be carefully evaluated. Therefore, an individual treatment plan is created for each patient and surgical options are selected to provide the most appropriate solution to the patient’s condition.

What are the Advantages of Robotic Surgery in Sleep Apnea Treatment?

It offers many advantages compared to traditional surgical methods. These advantages are of great importance in terms of both increasing the surgeon’s operational capabilities and making the patient’s post-operative period more comfortable. The advantages of robotic surgery in the treatment of sleep apnea can be listed as follows:

• Robotic surgery systems provide surgeons with a three-dimensional and high-resolution image. In this way, surgeons can see the target area in more detail during the operation.
• Interventions can be performed with millimetric precision. This sensitivity provides a great advantage, especially in correcting small and difficult-to-access anatomical structures that cause sleep apnea.
• Robotic surgery offers a minimally invasive approach, meaning the surgery is performed through smaller incisions. This means less tissue damage, less bleeding and less risk of infection than traditional open surgery.
• Thanks to minimally invasive techniques, patients experience a faster recovery process compared to open surgery. Post-operative hospital stay is shortened. In this way, patients can return to their daily lives more quickly.
• Due to small incisions, the risk of scarring after surgery is minimized.
• Robotic surgery filters the surgeon’s hand movements, eliminating the effects of unwanted movements such as tremors. This significantly reduces the risk of complications, especially in surgeries performed in sensitive anatomical areas.
• Since less tissue damage occurs during the operation, complications such as infection and bleeding are less common.
• Robotic surgery is also an effective treatment option for patients with complex anatomical conditions. Surgeons can more easily reach difficult-to-access areas thanks to the flexibility and precision provided by robotic systems. It can remove blockages in these areas more safely.

After robotic surgery, patients experience less postoperative discomfort, pain and swelling compared to open surgery. Additionally, thanks to minimally invasive approaches, patients need to use less medication. Thus, their quality of life after surgery is higher.