IASSA conducts conference on sleep apnea in Mumbai

Surgical guidelines to treat obstructive sleep apnea issued on the eve of the conference

The Indian Association of Surgeons for Sleep Apnoea (IASSA), issued surgical guidelines for Indian ENT surgeons treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) across the country, on the eve of the 4th National Conference of Indian Association of Surgeons for Sleep Apnea 2016 held in Mumbai recently. IASSA is an associated society of World Association of Sleep Medicine and promotes all aspects of sleep research and sleep medicine.

Reportedly, the conference witnessed congregation of over 400 ENT specialists from around the globe looking to gain insight in the field of OSA research, treatment and diagnosis.

Innovation and upgrades in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), future perspectives in OSA surgery, controversies in management and prevention of litigation, instructional course on do’s and dont’s of OSA were some of the important topics discussed in this three day conference.

Opening the conference, Dr Vikas Agrawal, President, IASSA said, “IJMR already has physician guidelines. IASSA has focussed on surgical guidelines, while also sharing detailed methods to diagnose sleep apnea correctly. Over 90 per cent of sleep apnea cases are misdiagnosed, in India, because sleep apnea is a relatively new subject.”

According to ENT experts, incorrect diagnosis is one of the biggest concern areas when it comes to OSA treatment in India.

The new OSA clinical guidelines have included standards for diagnostic techniques, treatment options and follow-ups for Indian surgeons and clinics performing evaluation and management, including surgery for OSA.

Dr P Vijaya Krishnan, Secretary, IASSA said, “Sleep related disorders are high in the Indian population and the accessibility for diagnosis and treatment is still not enough. However, this scenario is slowly changing with the advent of cost effective diagnostic and surgical options for treating OSA. Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) is one such diagnostic tool which helps in identifying the obstruction in the airway and improve patient management and treatment success.”