Head & Neck Institute Outcomes

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy is an emerging surgical treatment option for select patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Head & Neck Institute’s Section of Surgical Sleep and Snoring is providing this therapy to qualified patients who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA, are intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure therapy, and fulfill published criteria.

A total of 42 surgeries were completed for the time period of 1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023 and complete polysomnographic data on 18 patients implanted with the device is presented. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from approximately 39 before surgery to 2.7 after surgery. All patients had a quantifiable improvement in their sleep apnea after the procedure.

In general, patients reported meaningful improvement in their quality of life and daytime functioning.