Reclaim a Better Night’s Sleep

With sleep apnea, the upper airway becomes blocked or partially blocked, causing the sleeper to wake up to breathe. The cycle of restricted airflow, waking, sleeping, then waking again continues throughout the night. This cycle stops the individual from sleeping soundly and prevents vital organs from getting sufficient oxygen. Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to fatigue, headaches, irritability and other more serious health issues.

What if you or a family member suffers from sleep apnea and have found that the standard CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment doesn’t help? Neither does the dental mouthpiece often recommended as an alternative. What now?

“Inspire®, a minimally invasive surgical alternative, is providing relief to those individuals for whom CPAP and dental mouthpieces aren’t working,” says Jason Van Tassel, MD, a Washington Township Medical Foundation (WTMF) ENT and otolaryngology physician. “In use for more than 10 years, recent surgical refinements have made the procedure even more effective and popular,” he adds.

Dr. Van Tassel explains: The two-hour outpatient surgical procedure involves placing a miniature computing device (CPU) under the skin in the chest area. A nerve stimulator from the CPU is connected internally to some of the branches that control tongue protrusion. When the patient initiates a breath, it is detected by a sensor lead which communicates with the CPU. It then sends a signal to the tongue to move it out of the way, alleviating the obstruction, while at the same time coordinating with the patient’s natural breathing cycle. The net effect is that the obstructive sleep apnea is alleviated.

The patient uses a remote control device similar to a computer mouse to start, pause or stop the sensor from running. The patient starts the device when he/she goes to bed and turns it off in the morning. It can be paused during the night if the patient gets up and then restarted. It’s totally under the control of the patient and can be kept nearby.

Between 30% to 50% of persons suffering from sleep apnea can’t tolerate CPAP, Dr. Van Tassel explains. “They have difficulty with the face mask or have other health issues that interfere with effective CPAP use. They end up not using it, discarding it.”

Often a dental mouthpiece is recommended for those unable to tolerate CPAP. The mouthpiece keeps the mouth open enough for air to flow. The dental mouthpiece is successful in 20% to 30% of those who try it, but often can cause other dental or jaw issues.

Sleep apnea affects 8% to 10% of the public across all ages, Dr. Van Tassel notes. In children, it’s often caused by tonsils or adenoids and can be corrected by surgically removing one or both.

Dr. Van Tassel sees 20 to 30 patients a week suffering from sleep apnea. Approximately 20% undergo the Inspire surgical option. A month following the surgery, patients undergo tests to make sure the system is working correctly along with training on how to properly use the device.

Health insurance companies may require apnea patients to try CPAP and/or a dental mouthpiece first before approving the surgical alternative. Dr. Van Tassel says, “This can be frustrating for some patients who are exhausted by their sleep deprivation. But once they have worked through the system, they can find relief with Inspire.”

To learn more about Dr. Van Tassel or the Ear, Nose and Throat program at WTMF, visit mywtmf.com/services/ear-nose-throat