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Abstract
Continuous positive airway pressure is first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, but is often not well tolerated by patients. Surgery can help facilitate other therapies or provide improvement when other management options are not viable.
Key Points
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is very common and is associated with significant impact on patient health and partner’s sleep.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is first-line treatment for OSA, but adherence can be problematic.
- Surgery can improve adherence of, or be complementary to, other therapies.
- Surgery may provide benefit where other therapies have failed.
- A detailed history and examination are key for selecting appropriate surgical candidates.
- Modern surgical techniques have evolved to preserve tissue and function with good outcomes.
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