Lifesaving ENT surgery rescues young man from severe sleep apnea (OSA)
Ambar Bhattacharya, Takmaa News, Kolkata, 2nd Oct 2024 : Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we rarely notice the silent battles that people around us are fighting. While some of them are going through major life-changing events, some are suffering from rare or severe health problems. Such is the marvelous story of Sanchit Khandelwal, a resident of Sevoke Road, Siliguri, who has triumphed over a life-threatening condition through extraordinary medical intervention and personal resilience.
The 31-year-old patient had been suffering from debilitating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition where the airway becomes blocked at times during sleep. This seemingly invisible struggle can severely impact people’s quality of life and can cause fatality. OSA not only causes repeated interruptions in breathing but also causes disruptive loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. What makes Mr. Khandelwal’s case especially unique is his age and level of physical fitness, particularly when he was not obese person. Sleep apnea is extremely uncommon in healthy young individuals like him. The symptoms of OSA hampered his productivity and disrupted his mental and physical well-being gravely. His condition was so severe that he was prescribed by physicians to get Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which helps maintain continuous pressure to keep the airways open.
Dr. Dipankar Datta, an ENT surgeon and specialist in sleep surgery at Manipal Hospitals, Broadway, was approached by Sanchit, despaired to find an exit. He was put through various investigations, including a polysomnography test that monitored his brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing while he slept. The test verified that the patient indeed suffered from OSA, and surgery would be the best option particularly when he was non-compliant to the CPAP machine. Dr. Dipankar Datta performed some special surgeries to help make the throat, or airway tunnel, wider and clearer for better breathing and sleep. First, he gently removed the tonsils using a tool called Coblation, leaving some behind to help fight germs. Then, he smoothed out the roof of the mouth to prevent tightness, like stretching a rubber band. Finally, he trimmed the uvula, the little piece hanging at the back of the throat, so it wouldn’t block airflow. Together, these steps help make it easier to breathe and sleep well! Khandelwal was admitted to daycare and underwent a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), where stimulated sleep helps understand the dynamic block of the upper airway in real time, and a surgical plan was finalized.
On 8th September, Dr. Dipankar Datta conducted a series of surgical procedures, known as Multi-level Sleep Surgery, to improve the airway for better breathing and sleep. The operation started with an Intra Capsular Tonsillectomy (ICT) using Coblation to gently remove the tonsils while preserving some tissue for immune function. Next, he performed Barbed Palatopharyngoplasty to reshape and widen the palate, ensuring it did not constrict the airway. Finally, he conducted a uvuloplasty to trim the uvula (the small, teardrop-shaped piece of tissue at the back of the throat), reducing obstruction. These combined steps help enhance airflow and promote restful sleep.
According to Dr. Datta, “The surgery took over two hours. This part of the surgery is rare and done only in the worst-case scenarios of OSA when it is not responsive to any other form of treatment like CPAP. The complexity of the surgery, coupled with the rarity of the condition, made it more of a challenge. The surgery required the involvement of a highly skilled team to manage risks accordingly and ensure success.” The patient’s recovery has turned out to be an inspiring tale despite the challenges he has been facing.
Sharing his experience, Sanchit Khandelwal, shared, “I was living in a constant state of exhaustion and frustration. The surgery was a lifeline. It feels like a fresh start. For a long time, I was suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea which was taking a toll on my health and my professional life as a young entrepreneur in Siliguri. The constant tiredness, sweating during sleep, and reliance on the CPAP machine at such an early age, to help me breathe made me search for a permanent
cure. I extend my deep gratitude to Dr. Dipankar Dutta and Manipal Hospitals. They got me through the sinus surgery that saved my life. I am not at all dependent on any machine. Rather I am getting quality sleep at night and taking my business of garments forward with renewed energy.”
Mr. Khandelwal, having stayed in the hospital for just two days, was discharged and continues to lead a normal life without being burdened by CPAP therapy, transforming the journey from a miserable one to living a quality life. He has been allowed to resume normal activities in one to two weeks post-surgery. Within the next 3 to 4 weeks, he will be able to breathe much better, enjoying quality sleep with complete daytime freshness.
