[Submental transcutaneous electrical stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea].
BACKGROUND
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation while asleep has been used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), although without convincing results. Modern strategies consist of electrical muscle training for a number of weeks during wakefulness rather than stimulation during sleep.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the practicability, safety, and efficacy of a new device, SilentOne (Imperpuls, Chemnitz, Germany).


METHODS
Fifteen patients with various degrees of OSA used transcutaneous submental electrical stimulation therapy for 4-5 weeks every day, day and night. A patient's diary recorded practicability and potential adverse events. Respiratory parameters were recorded by fully attended polysomnography in the sleep lab. Daytime sleepiness and snoring were assessed by questionnaires.


RESULTS
The apnea-hypopnea-index decreased from 29.2 before to 21.2 after therapy (P<0.05). Daytime sleepiness improved significantly (P<0.01) as did snoring (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation therapy using SilentOne proved to be safe, easy to use, and potent. However, therapy showed a limited cure rate.
Verse
T
T
Universitäts-Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik Mannheim, Mannheim. thomas.verse@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Schwalb
J
J
Hörmann
K
K
Stuck
B A
BA
Maurer
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology