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Surgical Care
Upper Airway Stimulation Therapy
Treat sleep apnea at ChristianaCare with our novel approach.
Inspire – a New Mask-Free Way to Treat Sleep Apnea
If you or someone you love struggles to sleep because of sleep apnea, you’re not alone. About 18 million Americans suffer from the condition. Many use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Unfortunately, they don’t work for everyone – and they can be awkward to use.
Good news! There’s a remarkable new way to treat sleep apnea available at ChristianaCare. Its’ called Upper Airway Stimulation Therapy.
Inspire, a tiny device that can help you breathe better while you sleep, is a breakthrough implantable option for people who can’t use or don’t get good results from a CPAP.
Inspire is the only FDA-approved treatment for obstructed sleep apnea that treats the root cause with just the click of a button. Your doctor will insert a small device in your body with just a few small incisions. They can do that during an office visit, so you don’t need a hospital stay. Then, the Inspire upper airway stimulation device keeps your airway open using a gentle pulse. There’s no noisy equipment or uncomfortable mask to deal with.
The Inspire device monitors each breath you take while you sleep. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the device delivers mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the movement of your tongue and other key airway muscles. Stimulating these muscles keeps your airway open – so you can sleep peacefully.
Inspire is controlled by a small handheld remote control. The remote allows you to turn the device on before bed and off when you wake up. It also lets you increase or decrease stimulation strength and pause during the night if needed. You’ll have full control.
Our Process
ChristianaCare Oral & Facial Surgery Center
Dr. Daniel J. Meara & Dr. Etern S. Park
302-320-5730
ENT & Allergy of Delaware
Dr. Kieran M. Connolly and Dr. Jagdeep S. Hundal
302-998-0300
Wilmington Otolaryngology Associates
Dr. Lauren G. Bogdan
302-658-0404
Surgery
The upper airway stimulation therapy system is typically implanted during an outpatient procedure under general anesthetic. The system is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through three small incisions. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that you should be aware of. You should discuss the specifics of the procedure with your doctor.
Once all pre-operative requirements have been met, you will be scheduled for a surgical clearance appointment with your surgeon and obtain approval from your insurance. Your surgery will be scheduled at ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital.
Follow-up
Follow-up appointments will be an essential part of your post-surgical care. After the procedure, patients wait for 30 days to heal. Then they return to their physician, who activates the device. Once activated, patients can use a hand-held remote control to turn the device on before they go to sleep each night. They can also pause and turn it off in the morning. The battery pack is designed to last 7 to 10 years, much like a pacemaker.
Why Choose ChristianaCare?
We provide expert care in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with the upper airway stimulation therapy. Our board-certified surgeons have the experience and skill to complete your procedure and get you back to your day-to-day activities in no time. We partner with you – before, during and after surgery – on your journey back to restful sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Recovery time after surgery will vary from patient to patient, most patients experience minimal pain and swelling at the small incision sites for a few days after the implant. Although up to your physicians, most patients are able to go home the same day of your procedure.
Within a few days following the procedure, you should be able to return to normal non-strenuous activities. You should avoid strenuous activities for about two weeks or as directed by your doctor. A week after surgery, your doctor will examine you to make sure you are healing properly. Most patients have a full recovery within a couple of weeks.
Additional questions? Please call one of our providers using their contact information above.
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