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With review and feedback from CEENTA ENT physician Joshua Levine, MD (Blakeney)
If you have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP isn’t right for you, or you have tried other therapies, you may be considering Inspire, an implantable device that uses electrical pulses to open your upper airway. We want to assure you that, not only is this treatment effective, but it’s safe as well.
Inspire is implanted in a simple surgical procedure. Approximately one month after surgery, when you are ready to sleep, you can turn the device on with a simple remote control. While you sleep, the Inspire senses breathing and sends a gentle pulse that activates your tongue and opens the upper airway to keep you breathing freely.
Side effects after surgery are typically mild. You can expect to notice mild to moderate pain and swelling after the implant procedure for a few days, as well as some activity limitation. We recommend an arm splint for 2-3 days and no strenuous exercise for one month. Again, time and medicine can help resolve any discomfort, CEENTA ENT physician Joshua Levine, MD, said.
One month after surgery and activation, some people complain of tongue discomfort, which typically resolves either with time or as the device is tuned during post-surgical follow-up visits. Within one to two months, most patients are acclimated to the device at the desired stimulation level.
Given the implant’s placement, the pulses cannot cause a shock or injury.
Medical devices that require radiofrequency activation are incredibly difficult to hack, and to date there are no reports of Inspire being hacked.
If you have obstructive sleep apnea and traditional therapies don’t work for you, come to CEENTA and ask one of our sleep surgical specialists about Inspire. We look forward to answering your questions about upper airway stimulation and other effective surgical techniques for obstructive sleep apnea.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with Dr. Levine or any of our ENT doctors in North and South Carolina. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.
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