What is a Pillar Procedure: Overview, Benefits, and Expected Results

Definition and Overview

A pillar procedure is an FDA-approved sleep apnea and snoring surgery that involves implanting three specifically designed rods in the soft palate to reduce vibrations that cause snoring, a condition that affects 90 million men and women in the United States alone.

Snoring can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a life-threatening sleeping disorder that involves intermittent breathing. This means a person stops breathing for up to 20 seconds several times during the night.

Aside from a pillar procedure, there are also other available treatments for snoring and OSA. These include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral breathing appliances like nasal dilators and surgery like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which involves removing excess tissues to widen the air’s passageway.

Who Should Undergo and Expected Results

A pillar procedure is recommended for people who have mild to moderate case of sleep apnoea. It is not recommended for those who are severely obese or whose snoring is caused by blockages in the throat.

As a sleep apnea and snoring surgery, the pillar procedure is only considered when other conventional treatments like CPAP failed to correct the condition.

Before the procedure is even considered, it is a must that the patient has been clinically diagnosed with OSA, especially since there are other types of sleep apnea, such as central sleep apnea, that is caused by the inability of the brain to tell the muscles that regulate breathing to work properly.

Diagnosing OSA involves a comprehensive sleep study in a center or lab where the patient is monitored for at least a day or two.

As for the expected results, patients who undergo the pillar procedure will notice a significant improvement in their sleep within a few weeks to 3 months following the sleep apnea and snoring surgery.

How Does the Procedure Work?

The pillar procedure uses specially designed implants that are made from polyester, which is the same material used in several implantable appliances or devices for many years. Each of these implants measures no more than 18 millimeters with an outside diameter of 2 millimeters.

The implants are placed on the soft palate, which plays a large role in the breathing process while a person is asleep. It forms part of the mouth’s palate, which is found at the roof of the mouth near the hard palate.

Prior to the sleep apnea and snoring surgery, the surgeon—who can be an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specialises in ears, nose, and throat)—reviews the patient’s medical records to ensure he is eligible for the procedure and can greatly benefit from it.

The procedure is conducted in an outpatient setting and can be performed either under local or general anaesthesia. The implants are placed into the soft palate using their individual delivery tool. The procedure takes only 20 minutes and one office visit. The patient is allowed to go home once the effects of the anaesthesia have worn off. To reduce the risk of infection, the patient will be provided with antibiotics.

Possible Risks and Complications

Patients may feel some discomfort and pain during and after the procedure. In some cases, the implants protrude out of the soft palate tissue, getting in the way of swallowing and eating.

Because the pillar procedure is minimally invasive, recovery is very quick. The patient can go back to his regular activities within the day, although it is best if someone drives him back at home due to the possible aftereffects of anaesthesia.

References:

• Choi JH, et al. Efficacy of the Pillar implant in the treatment of snoring and mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis. The Laryngoscope. 2013;123:269.

• What is sleep apnea? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/. Accessed Dec. 16, 2013.

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**Question: What is a Pillar Procedure?**



**Answer:** A Pillar procedure is an ophthalmological technique used to ‌treat various ⁣refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It​ utilizes an advanced type of implantable contact lens (ICL) known as the ⁤Visian ICL or ⁢Implantable Collamer Lenses, to reshape the cornea and ⁣correct refractive errors, offering patients improved vision without the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.



**Benefits of⁤ a Pillar⁤ Procedure:**



*‍ **Clear, ⁣Sharp Vision:** This procedure has the potential to provide patients with clear and sharp ‍vision, minimizing dependency on eyeglasses​ or ‌contact lenses.



* **Reversible Procedure:** The implanted Visian⁢ ICL is‍ removable through surgery, making‌ the procedure reversible if the patient’s vision changes or in ⁤case of complications.



* **Preservation of Cornea:** Unlike LASIK or⁤ PRK,‌ a Pillar⁤ procedure does not require removing corneal⁣ tissue, which helps maintain the cornea’s natural ‍structure.



* **Minimal Incision:** It requires a smaller⁣ incision compared​ to LASIK or⁤ PRK, resulting in less ‌discomfort and a⁣ quicker recovery time.



**Expected Results from a Pillar ⁣Procedure:**



* ‍**Improved Visual Acuity:**‌ Patients usually ⁤experience improved visual acuity,⁣ reducing or eliminating the need for⁤ corrective lenses.



* **Mesopic ⁣Vision Enhancement:** It enhances mesopic vision, providing better vision ⁤in ⁤low-light conditions ⁣compared to traditional eyeglasses or contact lenses.



* **Night Vision Improvement:** Some ‍patients report improvements in night vision following a Pillar procedure.



* **Stability and Durability:** The results of‌ this procedure are relatively stable, with minimal risk of‍ the refractive error returning over time.



**Recovery Time and ‌Complications:**



* Recovery time is typically quicker compared to LASIK⁤ or PRK, with⁢ minimal ⁤discomfort ​or downtime.



* As ‍with any surgical​ procedure, there are potential ⁣complications associated with⁤ the Pillar procedure, which should be discussed​ with ⁤an ophthalmologist prior‍ to making a decision.



In summary, the Pillar procedure offers a minimally invasive ‌and vision-enhancing alternative for individuals seeking freedom from eyeglasses or contact lenses by utilizing ⁣Implantable ‌Collamer Lenses to correct refractive errors ‌and provide improved ⁢visual acuity, leading to a significant enhancement in overall vision quality.