On the evening of February 15, a representative from Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) announced that the hospital’s Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialists had successfully treated a severe case of sleep apnea in a foreign patient.
The patient, Ms. L. (42 years old, Cambodian nationality), began experiencing symptoms about six months ago. She started snoring loudly, breathing irregularly during sleep, frequently waking up at night, and suffering from persistent headaches, fatigue, and daytime drowsiness.
These ongoing issues significantly weakened her health, affecting both her work and daily life. After researching treatment options, she decided to seek medical care in Vietnam.
Ms. L. was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (Photo: Hospital).
After conducting a flexible endoscopic ENT examination, the doctors discovered that the patient had a narrowed oropharynx (the area at the back of the throat including the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and tongue base) due to grade III enlarged tonsils and a prolapsed soft palate and uvula.
This condition caused loud snoring and sleep apnea due to airway obstruction. Additionally, being overweight exacerbated the pressure on her airway, worsening the snoring and breathing interruptions during sleep.
Master and Specialist Level 2 Dr. Le Nhat Vinh, head of the Multidisciplinary Department and the primary treating physician for Ms. L., diagnosed her with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). He recommended corrective pharyngeal surgery to widen the upper airway.
After more than two hours of surgery, the medical team simultaneously removed two enlarged palatine tonsils using a monopolar electric scalpel, part of the tongue base and lingual tonsils using a Coblator machine (which utilizes high-frequency radiofrequency energy). They also excised the uvula and palatal muscles to expand the airway.
Shortly after the surgery, the patient recovered quickly with minimal pain, able to speak and eat soft foods. Notably, she experienced no complications such as bleeding, aspiration, or taste disturbances, and could breathe more easily while lying down without snoring or sleep apnea.
After four days of inpatient treatment and monitoring, her health stabilized, allowing her to be discharged with her family.
According to Dr. Vinh, this was a complex surgical case involving multiple procedures, as the patient’s upper airway faced numerous issues simultaneously. Moreover, the limited space inside the throat made the operation challenging.
Thus, the surgery not only required a highly skilled medical team but also the support of advanced surgical equipment to increase the success rate.
The patient’s enlarged palatine tonsils, uvula, and part of the tongue base were successfully removed post-surgery (Photo: Hospital).
Doctors warn that sleep apnea is becoming increasingly common but is often overlooked, as snoring is mistakenly considered a sign of deep sleep.
Therefore, this syndrome progresses silently and can lead to complications related to cardiovascular issues, hypertension, diabetes, physiological disorders, and even strokes during sleep, posing significant risks to life.
“If you frequently snore loudly, have difficulty breathing, irregular breathing during sleep, dry and sore throat upon waking, or feel fatigued, sleepy, and lack concentration during the day (especially when driving or operating machinery), it’s crucial to consult an ENT specialist promptly for diagnosis and appropriate treatment,” Dr. Vinh advised.
