Snoring: Why Surgery May Not be the Best Option

There is an increasing tendency in the Western world to consider surgery for an increasing number of physiological conditions that in the past have been tolerated or ignored.

At one time surgery was the choice of last resort and was certainly never considered for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. Although that view has changed, it should be remembered that any surgical procedure is not without risk.

With improvements in surgical techniques and a better understanding of the human body, medical science is now able to cure or alleviate the symptoms of all sorts of health conditions. Perhaps one should question whether surgery for conditions that are not life threatening, especially bearing in mind health budget restrictions that just about every health service faces, is appropriate.

Whereas any surgical procedure once required a hospital stay of over a week, it is a different story nowadays. Many operations are performed under local anesthetic rather than general and the use of modern day general anesthetics has shortened recovery times – often enabling patients to be admitted just as day patients.

Despite surgical advancements it is still not an exact science and for this reason anyone considering surgery to cure their snoring problem should ensure they have explored all other options first.

The first thing to consider is that surgery is not always successful. Whilst some surgical procedures have a higher success rate than others, there is uncertainty in the outcome of all operations. Surgery designed to stop or treat snoring is one of those procedures that does not enjoy a high success rate.

Obviously, if the blockage of the airway that causes the snoring is caused by a removable obstruction such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids or even a tumor, that obstruction can be readily and relatively easily removed. However, for those who snore simply because of their anatomical set up the procedure is less well defined and the outcome less certain.

If the blockage of the airway is caused by protruding or flabby tissue, a surgical procedure to cut away the offending tissue may be suggested. If the airway is opened because of the surgery and is not then closed again by the overgrowth of scar tissue, such an operation may be a success. However, because for most people snoring has a much deeper underlying cause, such surgery is painful and unnecessary simply because it is doomed to failure.

By turning to tissue cutting surgery it may be that the real problem is not solved. Snoring caused by the blockage of the airway can be caused by so many different factors – some associated with diet and lifestyle. It may be something as simple as the sleeping position adopted or some form of dysfunction of the jaw or tongue. Genetics may even play a part!

Another worry is that the temporary apparent success of tissue cutting surgery can disguise a more serious health condition that then has more time to grow, develop and worsen.

In an age where we would rather turn to cosmetic surgery than make diet and lifestyle changes, it is easy to understand why surgery is becoming the popular choice in treatments for snoring but caution needs to be exercised and careful consideration must be given as to whether this is indeed the most appropriate treatment for the problem.

By having surgery before all other avenues have been explored, such as changes in diet, lifestyle and sleep position there is enormous potential for the wrong problem to be solved.