The Center for Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy (CENTA) at St. Vincent Indianapolis is the first to offer a new FDA approved surgical procedure for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Tod Huntley of CENTA is among a select group of physicians in the United States trained in the new treatment option.

OSA is a condition in which normal breathing is disrupted when the tongue and other soft tissues relax during sleep, causing a complete or partial blockage of the upper airway. The diaphragm and chest muscles have to work harder to pull air into the lungs and patients often completely stop breathing for short periods of time. The episodes interfere with sound sleep and can also reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs, possibly causing irregular heart rhythms.

Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation is a fully implanted system that delivers mild stimulation to keep a patient’s airway open during sleep. It is a new option for people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Results from a study led by Dr. Huntley have shown that Inspire therapy can significantly reduce sleep apnea events and considerably improve a patient’s quality of life.

The Inspire system is implanted during an outpatient procedure. It consists of a small pulse generator, a sensing lead and a stimulation lead. It is controlled by the patient, who turns it on before bed and off upon waking. When operating, it senses breathing patterns and delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, keeping the airway open.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than 12 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, including one is 25 middle-aged men and one in 50 middle-aged women.

Source: Center for Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy