At UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Sleep and Breathing Disorders Clinic, physicians take advantage of cutting-edge treatments that build
on groundbreaking research, and they apply these treatments with a personal
focus.
All patients meet with one of our sleep
medicine or breathing disorder clinical providers to formulate a treatment plan
based on specific needs and goals. Our sleep specialists will send a report to
referring physicians outlining the findings of the diagnostic evaluation and
any treatment recommendations.
For clinic appointments, patients should please bring their CPAP machine. We will download the data on the machine in order to monitor compliance. This helps us make the necessary adjustments for treatment and improved quality of life.
Advanced Treatment for Sleep Apnea
One of the most common sleep disorders is
obstructive sleep apnea, which is usually treated with noninvasive positive-pressure
ventilation, such as a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BiPAP (bilevel
positive airway pressure) machine.
In these therapies, a mask worn while
sleeping applies positive pressure to either splint the upper airway for
obstructive sleep apnea or decrease the work of breathing and improve
respiratory function.
People who don’t benefit from CPAP or BiPAP
might need surgical treatments such as:
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation, a
procedure to stimulate the upper airway to effectively open the pharyngeal
space to treat obstructive sleep apnea. This device is implanted in a minimally
invasive surgical procedure, and it can help people sleep and breathe easier
without CPAP therapy. As of March 2017, UT Southwestern became one of only 100
locations worldwide that offers the hypoglossal nerve stimulator procedure.
- Maxillomandibular advancement, a
procedure to bring the lower jaw forward
- Tonsillectomy, or surgery
to remove the tonsils
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, also known
as UPPP, a procedure that widens the airway by removing extra tissue in the
throat
Some patients also benefit from a mandibular advancement device, which is
worn in the mouth to effectively treat sleep disordered breathing.
Breathing Disorders
For impaired lung function due to a
neuromuscular disorder, UT Southwestern offers advanced therapies and pulmonary
rehabilitation services. Our pulmonologists work closely with patients to address
any symptoms related to restrictive lung disease.
Treatments for breathing problems related to
neuromuscular disorders are based on the disorder that is causing them.
Treatment includes BiPAP therapy to support respirations, an airway clearance
device to assist with cough and chest wall mobility, and tracheostomy with home
mechanical ventilation.
