Snoring and sleep apnoea

Professor Carney has several research publications on Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Surgery, several of which were performed in conjunction with the late Dr Sam Robinson. Following Dr Robinson’s untimely death, Professor Carney is undertaking to continue the sleep surgery service at Flinders Medical Centre. Minimally invasive techniques to improve or cure snoring and sleep apnoea have now been developed. These techniques include modification of the UVPP technique which reduces pain, and Coblation tongue base channelling. This new technique uses fine probes to reduce the bulk of the tongue base, produce controlled areas of scarring and has been demonstrated to have extremely good success rates with minimal morbidity, pain and complications. Professor Carney chaired a working party on snoring and sleep apnoea surgery at The Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery and is involved in numerous multi centre research projects with other leading sleep apnoea surgeons throughout Australia.

Prior to your appointment, it is extremely helpful if the patients have received a formal assessment of their sleep and snoring (a sleep study). This can either be performed in your own home or in a laboratory and at Flinders Private Hospital or Repatriation General Hospital. If you have had one of these assessments, it is essential that we have the results to hand at the time of your consultation as this will determine which method of treatment we recommend. Please check with your GP or referring specialist that this data is available prior to your consultation.

The most effective treatment for snoring and sleep apnoea remains a CPAP mask. Surgery is only indicated for patients who are either unable to tolerate CPAP or other reasons why they cannot use this treatment modality. Mandibular advancement splints may also be appropriate for a proportion of patients. The use of CPAP and/or an MAS may provide you with an effective treatment without the need to resort to surgery. Please discuss these options with Professor Carney at your consultation.

For Prof. Carney’s Publications and Presentations on this subject click here.