Bandra based Asian Heart Institute is hosting a live robotic surgery course where doctors are participating from across the globe.
The workshop is dedicated to base tongue surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is scheduled on July 30. Doctors from across the world will be able to view the surgery real time.
Prof Dr Claudio Vicini and Dr Filippo Montevecchi from Italy, both pioneers in this field, will be the main speakers. They will reveal the different aspects of this new surgical technique called Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) of the base of tongue for treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
With a rapid increase in the incidence of obesity in the population, doctors are seeing more and more cases of sleep apnea. Many cases are also being reported from the adolescent section of the population.
What is OSA ?
OSA is a disorder in which a person stops breathing during the night, perhaps hundreds of times. These gaps in breathing are called apneas.
The disorder occurs when tissues in the upper throat collapse at different times during sleep, thereby blocking the passage of air.
In extreme and rare cases, it can be life-threatening. The interaction is likely to take place between 12- 1 pm.
Dr Vikas Agrawal, who is credited with performing TORS for the first time in India for the base of tongue for treatment OSA at Asian Heart Institute recently, will operate on three patients and talk about the different issues pertaining to obstructive sleep apnea in Indian population.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Short term memory problems, weight gain, tiredness, gastric reflux, sore throat, dry mouth, slow metabolism, inability to lose weight, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes.
Sleep apnea must not be left untreated.
Treatment often starts with behavioral therapy. Many patients are told to avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives, which can relax throat muscles, contributing to the collapse of the airway at night.
