April 2014

An Education Evening for General Practitioners

We recently hosted a seminar for General Practitioners on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and the risks associated with driving. We had three specialist speakers who shared their up to date and practical knowledge of OSA.

Dr Anup Desai, Sleep Respiratory Physician, communicated the importance of the risks associated with driving and OSA. There was a lively debate about when and if to report patients to the Roads and Maritime Services RMS).

Dr David Lowinger, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon presented an informative talk on the importance of having a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of OSA, including the surgical options that can help alleviate the severity of OSA.

Dr Manish Shah, General and Sleep Dentist, gave an interesting perspective on OSA and the relationship between early development of the facial structures and risks of developing OSA later in life.

For more information, please see our website www.sleepcentres.com.au or call us on 9252 6144.

The Multidisciplinary Approach to Sleep Apnoea

Dr David Lowinger, an Eastern Sydney Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon presented an informative talk to General Practitioners on the importance of having a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Although surgical options are not the cure for Sleep Apnoea, they can be used in many different ways to help the patient. For example, if the patient has nasal polyps (fleshy growths inside the nasal passages and sinuses that block the passages) this can irritate the patient if they are placed on CPAP Therapy. This makes CPAP treatment an uncomfortable treatment option. By surgically removing the polyps, the patient is then able to tolerate CPAP and comply with treatment. Although, this example demonstrates surgery is not the cure, it makes treatment more comfortable. Therefore, having an ENT consultation is integral to the diagnosis and treatment of Obstrutive Sleep Apnoea.  Call us on 9252 6144 or email us at info@sleepcentres.com.au for more information.