Inspire V System now available at UCLA

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has been a major breakthrough in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for patients unable to tolerate positive airway pressure therapy. Inspire Medical Systems had the first technology approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014, and I was the first surgeon in the Western United States to offer this…

Respiratory sensing lead risks with the Inspire IV system

Posted by & filed under Surgery.

The Upper Airway Stimulation system from Inspire Medical Systems has been an important and effective treatment option for many patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Like any procedure or technology, there are potential important risks to consider. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains the publicly-available Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience… Read more »

Reducing sleepiness with Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation: efficacy and adherence are both important

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation with the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation system has been a major advance in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Most studies examining outcomes – including important research on drug-induced sleep endoscopy and Inspire therapy outcomes where we have played a key role – has focused on how well the system works when… Read more »

Video Post: Surgical evaluation and treatment of OSA and improving outcomes of OSA surgery

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Surgery.

We have now released two new videos posted on YouTube and the following UCLA websites: UCLA Sleep Surgery UCLA Head and Neck Surgery Webinars UCLAMDChat Webinars   The first video discusses surgical evaluation and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea:   The second video shares work in sleep surgery – including research that we have performed…

What Is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)?

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea.

Over the past couple of years, I have seen more patients coming to me, indicating that they have been “diagnosed” with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) by so-called sleep experts. I have to stop myself from shaking my head, not knowing whether I should laugh or cry. The problem has become particularly noticeable over the…

What is unique about UCLA Sleep Surgery?

Posted by & filed under Palate Surgery, Snoring, Surgery, Tongue Surgery.

My move to UCLA was based on the opportunity to work with a larger team of sleep medicine providers and researchers, including other surgeons who focused in this area: Ashley Kita, MD and Travis Shiba, MD. We have just posted some videos on our UCLA Sleep Surgery website page explaining what we do as surgeons…

30th Annual Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Snoring Highlights

Posted by & filed under Sleep Apnea, Snoring, Surgery.

I am writing from our 30th annual Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Snoring course in Orlando, Florida. I have been fortunate to take part in this course for the past 20 years but take no credit for the course format that combines medical, surgical, and dental topics. This multidisciplinary approach is…

What types of sleep surgery procedures are being performed in the United States?

Posted by & filed under Surgery.

My educational background before entering medical school was in economics. As I started medical school and then progressed through my clinical and research training, this evolved into an interest in health services, a field that examines many aspects of health care delivery. This post relates to our recent publication on the types of sleep surgery…

Reducing narcotics for pain control after sleep apnea surgery

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Surgery often comes with pain during the healing process, and recovery from soft palate surgery for obstructive sleep apnea, in particular, is painful. There is wide variation in approaches taken to pain management after soft palate surgery, and I was fortunate to be involved in a 2019 publication from an international group presenting consensus-based recommendations…

Is mouth taping helpful for patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Mouth taping is one of many approaches marketed aggressively for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea without careful scientific evaluation. There is some evidence that mouth breathing can be associated with increased overall airway resistance and narrowing, both of which are unfavorable. The more-important question is whether closure of the mouth – possibly with mouth taping…

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