da Vinci robotic surgery means sweet dreams for Oswego woman

One morning in January 2015 Oswego resident Nancy Clabots woke up and said, “So that’s what it feels like.”

She was referring to her first refreshing night’s sleep in years – a pleasure that had been beyond her reach because of a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. Now she’s enjoying those Zs again thanks to an innovative robotic-assisted surgery that she underwent at Edward Hospital.

People with obstructive sleep apnea suffer repeated disruptions to their breathing during sleep because the airway has become either partially or totally blocked. Breathing typically resumes when the body wakes itself up with a gasp or a jerk. Among factors that can lead to the obstruction are an unusually small airway, a large tongue or excessive tissue at the back of the throat.

While not all people with sleep apnea snore, it’s a common symptom, as is daytime sleepiness. Untreated, obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for heart rhythm problems, hypertension and stroke.

Last year, the 54-year-old Clabots decided it was time to get relief from her chronic exhaustion. More than once she’d found herself nodding off while driving and exhausted while at her job in national sales for a school bus company.

“In the evening I couldn’t watch TV for five minutes before I’d fall asleep,” she says.

Her primary care physician referred her for a sleep study.

“It showed I stopped breathing 27 times an hour,” says Clabots. “I had moderate sleep apnea. They recommended a CPAP machine.”

The first line of treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP, a continuous positive airway pressure machine that increases airflow to the lungs, keeping the airway open. Another option is an oral appliance that eases the jaw forward, making more room in the back of the throat. But not all people can get used to these devices.

“I felt claustrophobic wearing the CPAP mask,” says Clabots. “And I didn’t think I’d adjust to having something in my mouth.”

Next option to be considered: surgery, such as the traditional operation to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat. But there’s now an alternative surgery option that uses the da Vinci Surgical System for patients like Nancy whose sleep apnea is caused by collapse of the back of the tongue deep in the throat.

da Vinci is the most advanced robotic technology that can be used for a range of minimally invasive procedures in gynecology, urology, and thoracic and general surgery.

Clabots was referred to David Wolraich, MD, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) with DuPage Medical Group, who performs robotic-assisted surgery on appropriate patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

“The da Vinci robot is the ideal tool for this type of surgery,” says Dr. Wolraich. “To my knowledge, Edward Hospital is the only community hospital in the area offering this option.”

da Vinci allows surgeons, sitting at a console just a few feet from the patient, to perform movements that human hands alone can’t do. The system’s technology translates the surgeon’s hand movements into steady, precise micro-movements. Its robotic arms have wrists that can rotate 540 degrees and the system’s 3D magnification helps the doctor get a better view of small areas, such as the throat, that are otherwise difficult to access.

Clabots’ surgery was December 13, 2014. It was about two-and-a-half weeks later that her “so that’s what it’s like” moment occurred. Her throat was no longer hurting and she was sleeping much better with significantly fewer episodes of sleep apnea.

She says, “I’m not someone who would agree to surgery lightly, but in this case I would agree to the same thing over again if I needed to. And I wouldn’t choose any other doctor to do it.”

For more information, visit www.edward.org/davinci.