Hypoglossal-Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea has well-established neurocognitive and cardiovascular sequelae. 1 Conservative estimates suggest that approximately 13% of men and 6% of women in North America have clinically important obstructive sleep apnea. 2 Despite the transformative benefits in some patients who receive therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), 3 many patients remain inadequately treated owing to inconsistent levels of adherence to existing therapies. Thus, further research is required to allow new therapeutic options to evolve. Traditionally, obstructive sleep apnea has been defined by anatomical compromise in which soft tissues and craniofacial structures around the pharyngeal airway lead to increased airway collapsibility. 4 Because of . . .