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For people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. Having one’s airway become blocked multiple times a night is not only disruptive in the immediate term—causing restless nights, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and more—but has also been linked to a greater risk of other health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks are often the first line of treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, but 25% to 50% of patients do not tolerate CPAP treatment well, says Dr. Tarek Abdallah of the Ochsner Baton Rouge Sleep Center. “Some patients are claustrophobic,” Dr. Abdallah says. “Some cannot continue to wear the mask due to discomfort, and some need higher pressure than the CPAP provides.”
An alternative treatment geared toward those patients is now available at Ochsner Baton Rouge. The Inspire implantable device uses upper airway stimulation to keep the airway open, promoting continuous breathing throughout the night. About the size of a pacemaker, the FDA-approved Inspire device is inserted under the skin of the chest by an Ochsner ENT surgeon during an outpatient procedure. “Using sensors, the system delivers an electrical stimulus to the tongue, forcing it to be in a position that can keep the upper airway open,” Dr. Abdallah says.
Once the device is implanted, it undergoes a tuning process through which the stimulation level is gradually increased under the guidance of the Sleep Center physicians. An external remote control allows the patient to turn the therapy on and off and to increase and decrease the stimulation level as needed.
“For the right patients, the treatment should typically provide them with significant relief from sleep apnea,” Dr. Abdallah says. “The long-term benefits are the same as those for any person with sleep apnea who is controlling their condition. Having sleep apnea has been connected to a higher risk of multiple other health issues, so by controlling the condition, we are trying to reduce these risks.”
The Inspire system is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people 18 years and older with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is typically covered by insurance for qualified patients.
Inspire is one of several sleep disorder treatments offered by the board-certified physicians who run the Sleep Center at Ochsner Baton Rouge. Physicians assess each patient using tools such as sleep studies, which can be conducted either at home or in a private room at the Sleep Center. These studies provide valuable insights into the patient’s breathing effort and oxygen levels during sleep. Sleep specialists work with ENTs, pulmonologists and other medical staff to tailor treatment to each patient’s individual needs.
“We offer a wide variety of treatment options for patients with sleep conditions in our practice,” Dr. Abdallah says. “For those who feel like they need a sleep evaluation or think they have a sleep disorder that has been untreated or unchecked, we can help in almost every single case—not only for respiratory sleep problems but also for conditions like excessive sleepiness, hypersomnia, insomnia and many others. We can help patients explore all of the options.”
Ochsner’s sleep program is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and The Joint Commission, and has locations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit ochsner.org/sleepdisorders.
