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Sleep Medicine

(284) Investigating Opioid Use After Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Implantation

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Sarah Kim, MD, PhD

    Resident Physician
    Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Emily A. Commesso, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Dept Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
    Durham, NC, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • RK

    Russel Kahmke, MD

    Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, NC, USA

  • Matthew Ellison, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Duke University Medical Center
    Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Disclosure(s):
Sarah Kim, MD, PhD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Emily A. Commesso, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Matthew Ellison, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) has become a successful and safe surgical alternative for individuals with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients with OSA are at increased risk of complications of opioid medication post operatively. There is a lack of research on opioid needs and prescribing practices for HGNS; this study aims to determine opioid usage following HGNS implantation.

Methods: Prospective cohort study included adult patients with OSA from the same institution who underwent HGNS Implantation by two surgeons. Patients were prescribed 5 tablets of 5mg oxycodone following surgery with pain control, opioid usage, and refills of opioid monitored at time of post operative visit. Opioid prescribing practices were compared to 50 preceding HGNS implanted patients. Opioid prescriptions were verified using the North Carolina Controlled Substance Reporting System database.

Results: Forty-three patients aged 64.5 (SD 9.7) with 35% females in this study were prescribed between 0 to 20 pills of oxycodone. One patient required one refill of their prescription in the acute post-operative setting. Ninety-eight percent required 5 tablets of oxycodone or less. This was not affected by gender (p = 0.4709, two-tailed unpaired t test). Oxycodone prescribing practices was significantly less in this cohort compared to 50 preceding implanted patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Majority of patients undergoing HGNS did not require more than 5 opioid tablets after surgery.