Soft palate implants as a minimally invasive treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
CONCLUSIONS
The palatal implant method originally designed to reduce snoring can significantly reduce the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in some patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a single office-based procedure.


OBJECTIVE
An initial study designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of palatal implants as primary treatment for patients with mild to moderate OSA.


METHODS
This was a prospective, non-randomized study of 16 previously untreated and undiagnosed patients with sleep apnea. The inclusion criteria were an AHI of 10-30/h and a body mass index (BMI) < or = 30.


RESULTS
The mean AHI was reduced following implantation, from 16.1 to 11.8 (p<0.01). A reduction in AHI was achieved in 13 patients (81%). Ten of 16 patients had their AHI reduced to <10.0. Snoring intensity decreased from 8.3+/-1.8 to 4.7+/-2.5 on a visual analog scale (p<0.001) and daytime sleepiness dropped from 7.2+/-2.5 to 4.6+/-3.2 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (p<0.05). No significant adverse events were reported.
Goessler
Ulrich Reinhart
UR
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany. ulrich.goessler@hno.uni-heidelberg.de
Hein
Gerhard
G
Verse
Thomas
T
Stuck
Boris A
BA
Hormann
Karl
K
Maurer
Joachim T
JT
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D017286:Polysomnography; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000517:prevention & control
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates