Kolkata doctors give new lease of life to 26-year-old man suffering from severe sleep apnoea

Doctors in Kolkata have given a new lease of life to a man suffering from severe sleep apnoea with treatment through a timely surgery helping restore his breathing againSevere snoring repeated breathholding choking spells during sleep and significant sleep disturbance and excessive daytime sleepiness led to the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea commonly known as OSA a condition where the airway repeatedly gets blocked during sleep in the 26yearold marine engineerA previous polysomnography detailed sleep study had recorded an ApnoeaHypopnoea Index AHI the number of times breathing stops or becomes very shallow per hour of over 40 along with a significant drop in blood oxygen levels The man was referred to Dr Dipankar Datta who is a senior consultant ENT and Sleep Apnea Surgeon at Manipal Hospital in Broadway As he was nonobese and did not wish to depend on CPAP a machine that keeps the airway open with continuous air pressure during sleep for longterm treatment a targeted multilevel surgery was chosen as the best optionTreating Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in a nonobese manBefore surgery an advanced test called DrugInduced Sleep Endoscopy DISE a test that shows where the airway gets blocked during sleep was performed It showed blockages at multiple levels including nasopharynx which is the junction of nose and throat the palate which is the soft tissue at the back of the mouth and throat The man also had a deviated nasal septum a bent partition inside the nose while the tongue caused only minor blockage Based on these findings the team performed a targeted minimally invasive surgery involving septoplasty straightening the nasal septum and Barbed Palatopharyngoplastyreshaping and supporting the palate and throat to improve airflow using special barbed suturesThe procedure used endoscopic and microscopic assistance with a coblation technique Bloodless and painless technique using Plasma energy By treating the specific areas causing the blockage the surgery improved the patients airway without extensive removal of the palate or uvula the small hanging tissue at the back of the mouth Following the surgery the patient showed good recovery with significant relief from his symptoms and within two daysSpeaking about the case Dr Datta stated ldquoThis was an unusual case as the patient was only 26 years old and nonobese Since his profession as a marine engineer requires goodquality sleep and alertness it was important to find a definitive solution Sleep endoscopy helped us identify exactly where his airway was collapsing during sleep particularly at the level of the palate and oropharynx Based on these findings we performed a targeted multilevel surgery involving septoplasty and Barbed Palatopharyngoplasty The patient has recovered well and we are hopeful that he will be able to resume his professional duties after completing his recoveryrdquoSharing his experience the man said ldquoThe constant snoring disturbed sleep and choking episodes had started affecting my daily life and were also becoming a concern for my work As a marine engineer getting proper sleep and being alert are extremely important for me I was initially worried about undergoing surgery but Dr Datta and his team explained the problem and the treatment clearly I am feeling much better after the procedure my sleep is much better now and am hopeful that I will be able to return to my duties soonrdquoThe man has recovered well following the surgery and has been discharged He will gradually return to a soft and normal diet over the next few days and has reported that his sleep has significantly improved following the procedure As part of his recovery he plans to resume his professional duties as a marine engineer on his next shipment subject to medical clearance He has also been advised to remain in followup with the medical team when he returns to Kolkata