At the beginning of this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) updated its guidelines for the screening and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in United State’s pilots. However, although the screening process for aviators has changed, the treatment options given to pilots with obstructive sleep apnea remain the same. Specifically, the FAA follows the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine’s OSA Long-Term Guidelines.
A Closer Look: JCSM Sleep Apnea Treatment Guidelines
According to the JCSM, choosing a treatment of pilots with obstructive sleep apnea should depend on a number of factors, including:
The severity of the sleep apnea.
The patient’s anatomy.
The patient’s likely causes of sleep apnea.
The patient’s risk factors.
The patient’s preferences and opinions.
The patient’s ability to comply with treatment methods.
The effectiveness of the chosen treatment as gauged over time.
The JCSM also notes that although a primary treatment should be sought, many patients may benefit from adjunctive treatments.
Primary Treatment Option: CPAP Therapy
The primary recommended treatment for all sleep apnea sufferers is continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy. This is a device that uses forced air to open the patient’s airway and must be worn consistently at night. Although CPAP devices are a proven effective sleep apnea treatment for many sufferers, compliance rates are low and many users report discomfort, side-effects, and inconveniences.
Secondary Treatment Options
The JCSM recognizes that CPAP therapy is not ideal for everyone. Secondary treatment options include:
Positional therapy (sleeping on your side or stomach).
Weight loss (goal BMI of 25 or less through diet and exercise).
Lifestyle changes (elimination of alcohol consumption and smoking).
Oral appliances.
Surgical treatments.
When it comes to surgical treatments, the guidelines note that only jaw advancement surgeries, such as bimaxillary advancement surgery, improve symptoms on a level similar to CPAP therapy. The Journal describes other types of surgery as helpful but “rarely curative.”
Access a flow chart of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Sleep Apnea Treatment Options here.
Bimaxillary Advancement Surgery at Surgical Sleep Solutions
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in bimaxillary advancement surgery, the one type of surgery recommended by the JCSM to fully treat and cure obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more about our services, or to request a consultation, please contact us today.