Excellent outcomes at 3 years after implantation of the Inspire Medical Upper Airway Stimulation system were reported in the January 2016 issue of the medical journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.  Many types of sleep apnea surgery have solid research evidence demonstrating multiple benefits, from improvements in health and sleep quality (treating sleepiness and quality of life) to… Read more »

The International Surgical Sleep Society is the world’s major organization dedicated to snoring and sleep apnea surgery.  I am honored to be the current President of the ISSS and am excited with new developments that we have recently announced. Next ISSS Meeting: Sao Paulo, Brazil in April 2016 The ISSS has focused their efforts on… Read more »

The 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery was just held in Dallas from September 27-30.  Although I typically give several talks related to sleep apnea surgery, whether focused on drug-induced sleep endoscopy or sleep apnea procedures related to the Palate Region or Tongue Region, one of the most enjoyable and interesting parts… Read more »

Sleep surgeons are always looking for ways to achieve consistent, predictable results.  Our best efforts use a combination of careful patient examination, precise surgical technique, and constant reflection and experience.  While we have seen major advances in surgical techniques and treatments, I would argue that we have just as much to offer in the improvements… Read more »

The subspecialty of snoring and sleep apnea surgery is relatively young, and people ask me all the time how I was drawn to the field.  I was fortunate enough to have my own interest sparked as a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania.  As medical students, we were all a little sleep-deprived (and more… Read more »

Here are some highlights from Days 2 and 3 of our sleep apnea and snoring course: Gary Foster, PhD, a long-time faculty member at Temple University and more recently the C0-Chief Scientific Officer at Weight Watchers, showed new studies evaluating the benefits of weight loss in improving moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, providing evidence… Read more »

This study and others are included in my video discussion of the Inspire Medical Systems Upper Airway Stimulation system that I have posted on Youtube. One of the distinctive aspects of the Inspire Medical Systems STAR Trial was the short-term withdrawal of therapy from some patients.  The November 2014 issue of the medical journal Otolaryngology–Head… Read more »

I am writing from Detroit and Henry Ford Hospital, the site of the 2014 International Surgical Sleep Society meeting.  The meeting brings together leaders from around the world, discussing the latest topics related to surgical and many non-surgical treatments other than positive airway pressure therapy (such as CPAP) and oral appliances.  This was the 6th… Read more »

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an evaluation technique that can be performed for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to tolerate positive airway pressure therapy (e.g., CPAP or BiPAP).  The purpose of DISE is to improve the results of treatment with surgery and/or oral appliances.  There are many surgical procedures available to treat the… Read more »

Many colleagues and individuals have thanked me for developing my sleep-doctor.com main website and blog.  To be honest, it has required hundreds of hours of time for this amateur website developer.  All the same, it helps my patients and has allowed me to share information about snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  I recognize that the… Read more »