NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – We are joined by Dr. Mark D’Agostino, Chief of Otolaryngology, he helps sleep apnea patients, and one of his treatments for sleep apnea is Inspire Therapy.
– Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder treated at Middlesex Hospital, and there are multiple forms and severities of sleep apnea.
– Obstructive is a common disorder with a prevalence of 3 percent to 7 percent and even higher in certain populations.
– It is important to note that all kinds of sleep apnea have the potential to be dangerous because obstructive sleep apnea results in the collapse and obstruction of the upper airway while sleeping. As a result, patients may stop breathing many times during an hour.
– A bed partner may witness snoring, choking, gasping, not breathing or restless sleeping.
– Sleep apnea symptoms include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
1. Getting up frequently to use the restroom
2. Waking up feeling tired and not well rested
3. Excessive daytime sleepiness
4. Waking up with headaches
5. Problems with memory or concentration
– Long-term consequences of untreated apnea include the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, dementia and increased risks for motor vehicle accidents.
– The standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is the use of CPAP, which is a positive pressure therapy that involves the use of a mask, hose and small machine. It doesn’t involve surgery.
– The CPAP mask works by having a flow of air create a pressure in the back of your throat and mouth to hold open the soft tissues that are falling back and closing your airway.
– If patients cannot use CPAP then they may be offered an oral appliance or surgery.
– There are many different surgeries that may be performed for obstructed sleep apnea, and Middlesex offers many of them, including robotic surgery for sleep apnea. The Hospital was one of the first in the country to offer and helped develop this.
– Robotic arms are guided through the patient’s mouth and a high definition camera allows for a surgeon to visualize the areas of the mouth and throat. In the past, these places could only be seen through open incisions.
– Middlesex was also one of the first to offer a new type of therapy that involves implanting a pacemaker for sleep apnea. This is called Inspire Therapy, and its been commercially available since 2014.
– Inspire Therapy involves implanting a wire that senses breathing. The unit itself is a pulse generator (like a pacemaker), and there’s also a stimulation cuff that is placed around a nerve that controls the tongue. A patient controls the therapy with a remote control.
– The primary benefit of Inspire Therapy is that it only requires a simple outpatient procedure, and there’s no permanent modification to any part of the patient’s body. It also doesn’t require you to wear a mask.
– Who is eligible for Inspire Therapy? You must be 22 or older and cannot be treated by the CPAP mask. You must have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index between 15-65 and less than 25 percent central sleep apnea. You must also have a body mass index at or below 32. Patients should not be significantly overweight.
– To learn more Inspire Therapy, attend a free community education event at Middlesex Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Based in Middletown, Conn., the award-winning Middlesex Health System, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, includes Middlesex Hospital, a not-for-profit, 296-bed magnet hospital, and the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center. It also features three emergency departments, three urgent care centers and an assisted living facility, along with many other programs and services. The health system’s primary care physicians, surgeons, specialists, nurses and other employees work hard to meet the needs of the Middlesex County and Connecticut shoreline communities.
Using cutting-edge, innovative technology, the health system’s vision is to be the clear, first choice for medical care, and its mission is to provide the safest, highest-quality care and best experience possible.
For more information visit http://middlesexhospital.org
