Novel device implant significantly improves obstructive sleep apnea symptoms

The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation device improved obstructive sleep apnea severity, according to findings presented at the SLEEP 2016 annual meeting.

Richard Schwab, MD, co-medical director of the Penn Sleep Center, and colleagues reported that the implantable device, which delivers hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), may help patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Fourteen patients underwent baseline polysomnography recording to assess apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) before receiving the implant.

Schwab and colleagues reported that nine patients returned for postimplantation polysomnography as of December 2015; those patients were evaluated to determine changes in AHI and optimize settings.

Results showed that the nine patients experienced an average decrease of 32.3 ± 22.9 events/hour, resulting in a mean total AHI of 13.1 ± 17.2 events/hour after the implant (P = .015).

In addition, mean oxygen desaturation nadir increased from 78% ± 11% to 89% ± 4% (P = .011).

"Overall, patients that elected to undergo HGNS implant surgery at the University of Pennsylvania showed significant improvement in [obstructive sleep apnea] severity based on total AHI," the researchers concluded. "These preliminary data show an overall positive response to treatment and support continued use of HGNS for patients with [obstructive sleep apnea]."

"Considering that sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems, it is critically important that we study devices that may serve as another option instead of CPAP to treat patients with sleep apnea," Schwab said in a press release. "There is no perfect treatment option of obstructive sleep apnea, but our preliminary data suggest that [HGNS] can effectively treat patients with sleep apnea who are unable to tolerate CPAP." – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes

Reference:

Schwab R, et al. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea: Initial results at the University of Pennsylvania. Presented at: SLEEP Annual Meeting 2016; June 11-15; Denver.

Disclosures: Healio Internal Medicine was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures before publication.