Stimulation bei Schlafapnoe: Stimulation des Nervus hypoglossus zur Behandlung der OSA

Standard treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is nightly application of positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). However, adherence to CPAP is limited due to side effects and complications, and patients are frequently untreated or undertreated. In this scenario, patients with OSA are at risk of developing comorbidities such as arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, or diabetes, and are exposed to an increased risk of experiencing traffic or occupational accidents due to daytime sleepiness. Alternative treatments include mandibular advancement devices or positional devices to prevent patients sleeping on their back, as well as anatomy-altering surgical procedures. For several years now, an additional surgical treatment—hypoglossal nerve stimulation—has been available for selected OSA patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a dynamic surgical approach that uses electrical stimulation to activate key muscles of the upper airway to achieve airway patency.