Suffering from sleep apnea means you stop breathing intermittently throughout the night. The more severe the sleep apnea, the more frequently your breathing will stop. And the longer you have sleep apnea, the more serious it gets. By age 50, your heart attack, stroke, and death risk dramatically increase.
Inspire therapy offers an alternative treatment approach that addresses the underlying airway obstruction through electrical stimulation for those who struggle with CPAP compliance or do not respond well. In this article, we’ll understand what is Inspire for sleep apnea, its advantages, and the potential risks of using it.
What is Inspire?
Inspire for sleep apnea is a type of medical equipment that is used to address obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Inspire treatment is a revolutionary therapeutic option for patients suffering from moderate to severe OSA who are unable to tolerate or benefit from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
How Does Inspire Work for Sleep Apnea
Inspire works by delivering mild stimulation to key airway muscles during sleep, effectively preventing the collapse of the airway. It has three main components: a small generator, a breathing sensor, and a stimulation lead. The generator is put beneath the skin in the upper chest, and the breathing sensor is positioned in the chest wall. The stimulation lead is threaded through the neck muscles, targeting the specific muscles responsible for controlling the airway.
What Is the Difference Between Inspire and CPAP?
CPAP and Inspire therapy are two treatments for sleep apnea. CPAP uses a machine to deliver pressurized air through a mask during sleep. This keeps the airway open and reduces sleep apnea events and snoring. Inspire therapy is an implantable device that stimulates the tongue muscles to open the airway during sleep. The system is implanted and delivers electrical stimulation during sleep. Overall, both treatments aim to improve sleep quality for those with sleep apnea.
CPAP is a non-invasive procedure that utilizes a mask connected to a machine. Compliance can be difficult as patients need to use it consistently while sleeping. Inspire therapy is invasive and requires a surgical procedure to implant the device. Once planted and activated, it automatically senses breathing patterns and does not require any external devices during sleep.
Advantages of Inspire as a Sleep Apnea Treatment
Among the various CPAP devices available in the market, Inspire stands out as one of the most advanced and advantageous options.
- Inspire is a treatment option that can be personalized for each patient. After implantation, it is programmed based on the person’s sleep patterns and breathing needs.
- Inspire is easy to use and convenient for patients. Patients can control the device settings with a small remote, making it simple to adjust therapy settings.
- Inspire improves patients’ experiences by eliminating masks, external gadgets, and uncomfortable equipment.
- Inspire is effective for managing sleep apnea long-term. Studies prove that Inspire patients see improved sleep quality and reduced apnea events for many years after implantation.
- Inspire for sleep apnea can improve health. Sleep apnea can cause excessive blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Inspire reduces these conditions and improves cardiovascular health by decreasing sleep quality and apnea occurrences.
- Sleep apnea causes exhaustion, daytime drowsiness, and irritability. Inspire improves sleep apnea symptoms. This can boost energy, performance, and well-being.
Candidates for Inspire Treatment
The exact criteria for being a candidate may change based on medical guidelines and the patient, but here are some general things to think about for possible candidates:
- Ideal candidates for Inspire should have a confirmed diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea through a sleep study (polysomnography) or other relevant diagnostic tests.
- Patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea, as measured by how many apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep (Apnea-Hypopnea Index, or AHI).
- Eligible candidates should have shown that CPAP treatment didn’t work well enough, either because they didn’t use it enough or CPAP was incompatible with them.
- Inspire treatment requires suitable upper airway anatomy. Airway size, collapsibility, and other anatomical variables affect therapeutic efficacy.
- There may be age and weight requirements for candidates since certain age groups and weight ranges may affect how well the process works and whether or not it can be done.
- Candidates should generally be in good overall health, without significant medical conditions that could interfere with the surgery or implantation process.
- Inspire therapy is specifically designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea and unsuitable for individuals with predominant central sleep apnea.
- Candidates must be willing to attend follow-up appointments and device adjustments to maximize the result.
Inspire Procedure for Sleep Apnea
Inspire therapy involves implanting a medical device to help keep the airway open during sleep. Here is an overview of the Inspire procedure:
Comprehensive Evaluation
Patients undergo a thorough evaluation by a sleep specialist to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and determine eligibility for Inspire therapy.
Surgical Implantation
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and involves implanting the Inspire system components.
Placement of Components:
- Pulse Generator – a small device placed under the skin in the upper-right of the chest area that controls stimulation.
- Breathing Sensing Lead – positioned near the diaphragm to monitor breathing patterns during sleep.
- Stimulation Lead – Positioned near the hypoglossal nerve to deliver mild electrical stimulation during sleep.
Automatic Activation
The system automatically senses breathing patterns during sleep and delivers stimulation to keep the airway open.
Follow-up Care Implantation
Patients have regular post-operative appointments for device adjustments and monitoring.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
Some potential side effects and risks of using Inspire for sleep apnea include:
- Pain, discomfort, or irritation around the implanted device or leads.
- Device malfunction or failure.
- Nerve injury or damage during the sleep surgery leading to temporary or permanent changes in sensation or muscle function.
- Device-related discomfort during sleep.
- Undesirable changes in tongue or airway muscle function.
- Changes in voice or swallowing function.
- Device migration or displacement.
- Allergic reactions to materials used in the device.
- Device-related noise or sensations perceived by the patient.
- As with any surgical procedure, there is a general risk of bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to medications used during the surgery.
How Much Does the Inspire Implant Cost?
Many medical insurance policies cover this and is even offered at select administration hospitals. CareCredit estimates the out-of-pocket cost of a hypoglossal-nerve stimulator (like Inspire) to be between $30,000 and $40,000.
Garza DDS: Determine Whether Inspire Is Right for You
If you don’t respond well to CPAP, don’t worry; you can consult your sleep apnea doctor about what is suitable for you. Knowing what will work best for your condition can be hard, but many options are available. If you’re in Gilbert, AZ, and need assistance, contact Garza DDS at 480-674-4966 or visit our office at 754 S Val Vista Dr, Ste 106, Gilbert, AZ, 85296.