Implementing a Streamlined Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Pathway: Cost, Time to Surgery, and Outcomes

Objective To evaluate the costs, time to surgery, and clinical outcomes associated with implementing a streamlined hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HGNS) implantation pathway. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single tertiary care center in the United States from 2016 to 2023. Methods Patients with a lack of complete concentric collapse of the velum during volitional snore on in‐office laryngoscopy qualified for the streamlined HGNS pathway. This pathway consisted of confirmatory drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) followed immediately by HGNS implantation during the same surgical encounter. Outcomes were compared to patients in the traditional pathway (standalone DISE followed by HGNS implantation on a later date). Results A total of 68 patients (13 streamlined, 55 traditional) with obstructive sleep apnea who underwent HGNS implantation were included. Patients were predominately male (70.6%) and White (95.6%) and had a mean (SD) age of 63.5 (10.0) years. The streamlined pathway was associated with a significant reduction in both hospital costs (mean difference $9258, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3690‐14,825; P = .002) and time to surgery (mean decrease of 3.82 months, 95% CI: 0.83‐6.80 months; P = .013) compared to the traditional pathway. Patients in both groups had reduction in apnea‐hypopnea index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, with no significant differences in comparisons between groups. Conclusion In select patients, the streamlined HGNS pathway may expedite time to surgery and reduce hospital costs with comparable clinical outcomes to a traditional 2‐stage pathway. Further research is warranted to validate patient selection and better understand longitudinal outcomes.