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Sleep Medicine

Considerations With Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Lessons Learned From Tough Cases

Tuesday, October 3, 2023
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: 103A

    Moderator(s)

  • Jolie L. Chang, MD

    Associate Professor, Otolaryngology HNS
    University of California San Francisco
    San Francisco, CA, United States

    • Panelist(s)

  • Maria V. Suurna, MD

    Professor
    University of Miami
    Miami, FL, United States

  • Megan L. Durr, MD, FACS

    Associate Professor
    University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, CA, United States

  • Clemens Heiser, MD, PhD

    Professor and ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon
    Technical University of Munich
    Munich, Bayern, Germany

Disclosure(s):
Jolie L. Chang, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Megan L. Durr, MD, FACS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Clemens Heiser, MD, PhD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: There is growing interest and availability of Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). HNS is considered an effective therapy for patients with OSA who are not responsive to CPAP. Success and optimal outcomes with HNS depend on a combination of appropriate patient selection, surgical technique, and optimizing therapy uptitration and postoperative evaluation. We can learn from complex cases and treatment failure examples.

This panel of sleep surgeon experts will discuss the challenges of hypoglossal nerve stimulation with a focus on patient selection, surgical pitfalls, device failure evaluation, therapy titration issues, and compliance monitoring. The panel will present case-based examples and outline management strategies to optimize patient outcomes with HNS therapy. This is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of HNS therapy and how to overcome obstacles to successful treatment.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Understand the relationship between patient selection factors and successful outcomes with focus on upcoming changes to candidacy criteria.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Review common and uncommon surgical pitfalls and complications as well as intraoperative techniques for evaluating proper stimulation cuff placement.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Evaluate challenges with uptitration and optimizing therapeutic success.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy is a growing field. There are a few troubleshooting tips and tricks along the care pathway that are important for all otolaryngologists counseling patients on sleep apnea surgery to understand.