First Inspire Implant at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital To Help People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
On Monday, October 31, OhioHealth Otolaryngologist (ENT) Christopher Selinsky, DO, performed his first Inspire Implant at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital.
Inspire is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for people who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.
"Inspire therapy is a great option for OSA patients that do not tolerate conservative therapy,” Dr. Selinsky says. “While there are other surgeries for OSA, they are very painful and will often not improve the OSA enough to stop CPAP therapy. Inspire is very well tolerated and provides great results allowing patients to discontinue use of their CPAP. I look forward to continue to provide this service to many patients in the future."
The Inspire system is implanted during a short, outpatient procedure. The system is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through two small incisions. Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to the turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.
OSA affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep.
The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during the STAR clinical trial. Five-year STAR trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. There have been over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire. These publications show results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial.
Am I a good candidate for Inspire?
Inspire therapy is for people who meet the following requirements:
• Diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI 15-65)
• Cannot use or get consistent benefit from CPAP
• Not significantly obese
• 18 years of age or older
Will Inspire help with snoring?
A significant decrease in snoring has been found as a secondary effect of Inspire. 90% of bed partners report no or soft snoring by their partner.
What does the stimulation feel like?
Inspire sends mild stimulation to the motor nerve that controls your tongue, moving it out of the way. The stimulation is very gentle and designed to move the tongue forward without disturbing your sleep. It should not be painful or uncomfortable.
How long will the battery in Inspire last?
The battery in Inspire is designed to last for approximately 11 years. Once it is running low, it is replaced during a simple outpatient procedure.
