Wendy Damonte
Channel 2 News
It's estimated 10 to 12 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, that's when the airway is blocked during sleep. It can lead to a number of health problems, but now a new surgery using robotic technology is helping people rest.
Judy Oderwald, a sleep apnea patient finally has the energy to read without falling asleep. "Now when I go to bed, I have to fight to go to sleep," she explains with a laugh. "The other times I would hit the pillow and that would be it."
Oderwald was always tired because like millions of Americans she suffered from obstructive sleep apnea. Her airway closed up during sleep, causing her to snore and even stop breathing hundreds of times each night.
Now a revolutionary new surgery that uses robotic technology is bringing relief to her and many others.
During surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Ahn goes through the mouth with tiny robotic tools, cutting out excess lymphoid tissue to open up the patient's airway. The technology lets him operate in a place that until now was difficult to reach with human hands.
"This is really an amazing technology that boosts the ability of the surgeon," says Dr. Ahn.
Robotic surgery is fairly common in the operating room these days, but only a few doctors in the world are using it to treat sleep apnea.
Dr. Ahn says the surgery is only for those who have tried everything else from a breathing mask to partial surgeries.
Oderwald says she had a sore throat and some discomfort while her incisions healed but because of the surgery, she's finally getting good sleep.
