We’re happy to share that Scott McCusker, MD, and Shoab Siddique, MD, Ear, Nostril and Throat surgeons at Dignity Well being Mercy Medical Group, accomplished the primary Encourage process on the Outpatient Surgical procedure Heart at Mercy Basic Hospital. The Encourage system is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapy possibility for individuals who can not use commonplace Steady Optimistic Airway Strain (CPAP) remedy.
OSA impacts 22 million Individuals and happens when the airway collapses throughout sleep and blocks the circulate of oxygen to the mind. The mind senses an absence of oxygen and wakes the physique up simply lengthy sufficient to take a breath, then falls again asleep. This cycle repeats all through the night time and causes poor, disruptive sleep. When left untreated, OSA may cause car and office accidents, worsening temper and reminiscence, stroke, coronary heart assault, and even dying.
Encourage represents a major development in treating sleep apnea. The Encourage system is implanted throughout a brief, outpatient process and works contained in the physique with a affected person’s pure respiratory course of to deal with the dysfunction. Delicate stimulation opens the airway throughout sleep, permitting oxygen to circulate naturally. The affected person makes use of a small handheld distant to show Encourage on earlier than mattress and off once they get up.
The security and efficacy of Encourage was evaluated through the STAR scientific trial, and five-year STAR trial outcomes present sufferers utilizing Encourage expertise important reductions in sleep apnea occasions and important enhancements in quality-of-life measures.
“We’re proud to have efficiently accomplished the primary Encourage process at Mercy Basic Hospital. This therapy is a superb development for acceptable sufferers within the therapy of OSA,” stated Dr. McCusker.
“These constructive outcomes lay the groundwork for a brand new method to therapy and convey us nearer to our objective of offering extra tailor-made choices for folks dwelling with this dysfunction,” added Dr. Siddique.
“We sit up for providing the Encourage system to extra folks dwelling with OSA in hopes of bettering their high quality of life,” stated Deanne Nyland, MD, Ear, Nostril, and Throat surgeon with Dignity Well being Mercy Medical Group who may even be performing these instances.