[Guest]

If OSA is caused by collapse of airway, hasn't someone invented a rigid tube of some kind could be implanted at site of collapse, would keep airway open?

[Guest]

Good question. That would fix it. As a matter of fact when a person is placed on a ventilator in the ICU a plastic tube does go from outside the mouth or nose into the trache and keeps that area from collapsing, eliminating the OSA while its there. The problems with doing that by yourself at home is that it would be unsafe. First of all trying to put a tube in back of your throat would invariable cause gagging and vomiting, unless you work for a circus as a sword swallower. Secondly, the tube that is put in when a person is put on a breathing machine, if it is placed blindly, most of the time ends up in the esophagus and not the trachea. This is essentially how CPAP works. Continous positive airway pressure causes positive airway pressure in the back of the throat pushing out the walls and keeping it from collapsing in, without having to put the tube back there.