Paducah physician recognized for excellence in obstructive sleep apnea surgery | News

PADUCAH — With a career in helping Paducah residents find better sleep, one local surgeon is recognized for his work treating obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that affects over 900 million adults worldwide, according to an article published in the journal “Diagnostics.” A potentially fatal sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea is linked to many dangerous health conditions including cardiovascular problems. Dr. Shawn Jones, an otolaryngologist with Baptist Health Medical Group in Paducah, has been helping local residents resistant to typical treatment fight the condition for the last three years.

“40% of people who have obstructive sleep apnea and are prescribed a CPAP mask are able to tolerate that mask and for a large majority of the remainder of those people,” Jones said. “The 60% aren’t able to tolerate the mask, there have been really limited options for treatment of their apnea surgically.”

Over the years, Jones has helped patients find relief through Inspire Therapy, an FDA approved surgical implant which allows patients to regain control of their breathing through remote controlled airway stimulation. According to a press release by Baptist Health, the procedure requires only two small incisions into the neck and chest, with patients typically able to leave the same day.

Jones said the surgery was an effective treatment for many in reducing and eliminating sleep apnea symptoms for patients who cannot use CPAP machines, which are the traditional treatment method for sleep apnea. A study into the treatments effectiveness in the American Journal of Otolaryngology found the device was effective for many patients, but held risks such as infection, nerve damage, and may require device maintenance and repositioning.

Jones said so far he has installed over 290 devices for his patients. For his work treating the condition, Jones was recently recognized as an Inspire Excellence Member. Jones said this award recognizes surgeons and teams that surpass most of the teams implanting these devices across the county.

According to Jones, those with sleep apnea typically experience pausing of breathing at night, something they might not be aware of as they experience it. Symptoms can include loud snoring, frequent sleep disturbances, fatigue, and feeling sleepy throughout the day. Sleep apnea can exacerbate existing health conditions, and lead to conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular issues, and obesity.

“The important thing is just knowing if you’re at risk for it, and talking to your family doctor and getting tested if you feel like you might be suffering from it,” Shawn said.

Jones said those with sleep apnea may not be able to identify the symptoms themselves, and recommends speaking with family or partners to check for any problematic sleep patterns such as excessive snoring. After identifying signs, he recommends visiting a doctor for a sleep study.

For Paducah resident Jeffery Thompson, he didn’t know about his sleep apnea until relatives mentioned his chronic snoring. After getting a sleep test, Thompson was diagnosed with apnea and given a CPAP machine. Thompson said the CPAP machine has improved his sleep and his life significantly. He said he could finally sleep, and stopped feeling tired during the day.

“There were nights, trying to go back to sleep, and not getting enough rest,” Thompson said

While Thompson’s condition improved through the use of a CPAP machine, Jones said that treatment isn’t effective for everyone. Thompson stressed the importance of considering your options and finding treatment, whether CPAP or surgery, even if they are uncomfortable or require adjustment.

“Avoiding treatment or not wanting to find out about it is the real danger, because in that sense, it tends to be a silent killer that gradually worsens a lot of other health conditions,” Jones said.