Abstract
Study background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease characterized by repetitive upper airway obstruction during sleep. OSA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been established as a standard therapy for OSA, but it is not always tolerated by OSA patients. Objective: In a pilot study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of the nasal airway stent (NAS), a new nasopharyngeal device placed in the nasopharynx, on OSA and snoring. Methods: Six subjects with OSA were enrolled. The apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, lowest oxygen saturation, and snore index were analyzed before and during treatment with the NAS. Results: All subjects tolerated the NAS, with good compliance. Treatment with the NAS ameliorated apnea and hypopnea events and improved oxygen saturation in subjects with mild to moderate OSA. Snoring in all subjects was improved by the NAS. Conclusions: The NAS stent is a readymade device that could be an alternative therapy for patients with mild to moderate OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP or for subjects with snoring.
Highlights
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common public health problem that affects as much as 4% of the adult population [1,2]
The nasal airway stent (NAS) stent is a readymade device that could be an alternative therapy for patients with mild to moderate OSA who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or for subjects with snoring
Nasopharyngeal appliances are currently available, unlike those appliances, the single NAS (s-NAS) is constructed of resilient silicone rubber that enables the upper airway to maintain the patency
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common public health problem that affects as much as 4% of the adult population [1,2]. Several therapies have been developed to treat OSA, including surgery and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) [7]. CPAP has been established as a standard therapy for patients with OSA [7,8,9]. It is effective, low patient tolerance remains an obstacle to be overcome [10,11]. The nasal trumpet has been used successfully to decrease airway obstruction in the short term, such as immediately after surgery for OSA [18]. The stiffness, length, and consequent discomfort of nasal trumpets mean that they need to be improved for long-term tolerability [18]
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