Airway Management
The Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of the Northwest specializes in airway management procedures such as tonsillectomy, somnoplasty for sleep apnea and snoring, pillar procedure, and the removal of foreign bodies from the esophagus and bronchi. Procedures are listed in detail below.
Tonsillectomy
The tonsils are located in the throat. The proper name for this infection is tonsillitis, which can appear as two large swelling masses in the throat. If the tonsils become inflamed or swell to the extent that breathing becomes impaired, then a tonsillectomy may be performed to remove the tonsils.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea occurs when there is excess tissue in the upper airways, enlarged tonsils, or a large tongue. Symptoms may include stopped breathing during sleep, heavy snoring, and/or daytime sleepiness. Treatment of sleep apnea may be minor, such as a diet change or sleeping on one’s side. But, in more serious cases of sleep apnea, treatment may include somnoplasty or surgery to remove excess tissue in the upper airways.
Snoring, Somnoplasty and Pillar Procedure
Snoring can be caused by excess tissue or deviated airways in the nostrils, mouth, or throat. Some physicians may recommend Somnoplasty, which is the use of low-power radio frequencies to create lesions around the obstructed area that heal and reinforce the area within 6-8 weeks. Pillar Procedure, also known as, “palatal restoration”, takes a single, brief visit to the physician’s office, where the physician first numbs the area with a local anesthetic, and then three tiny inserts are embedded into the soft palate using a specially designed delivery tool. The inserts cause a stiffening effect in the palate tissue to prevent vibration (snoring) and obstruction (OSA) of the airway during sleep.
Removal of foreign bodies from esophagus and bronchi
Endoscopic surgery is the most common method for removing foreign bodies from esophagus and bronchial tubes. No matter how the foreign body (e.g. - coins, food, small objects) was lodged into the airway, a qualified physician can remove the obstruction usually using noninvasive surgical methods.