Dangerous Breath Loss Tongue pacemaker can help with obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea: Through tongue pacemakers, airways remain open during sleep

According to health experts, around 3.7 million people in Germany suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. During sleep, there are always dangerous breathing mischiefs. An implanted tongue pacemaker can keep the airway open during sleep.

Lack of oxygen due to intermittent respiration

As reported by the University Hospital Würzburg (FM) in a communication, approximately 3.7 million people in Germany suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. "In this syndrome, the tongue muscles and the surrounding tissue relax during sleep," explains Prof. Dr. med. Rudolf Hagen. "The upper respiratory tract is closed and breathing stops. The resulting lack of oxygen leads, among other things, to frequent wake-up reactions during the night ", according to the Director of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic and Aesthetic Operations of the VHF.

Sleep apnea causes dangerous breathing interruptions during sleep. An implanted tongue pacemaker keeps the airways open. (Image: Zerbor / fotolia.com)

Sleep apnea must be treated

"Sleep Apnea is a serious disease that needs to be treated in any case," writes the German Association of Otolaryngologists on its website "ENT Doctors on the Net".

Oxygen deficiency increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack and stroke.

If the sleep apnea remains untreated, the mortality rate of the patients increases significantly: "Within 10 years 40 to 50% of those affected die. If sleep apnea is adequately treated according to its causes, the prognosis is generally good, "the ENT doctors report.

Standard therapy not suitable for all patients

According to the VHF, sufferers can wear a special mask as standard therapy, which feeds them continuously during the sleep ambient air with a slight overpressure.

In this method, known as CPAP (English: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), the overpressure stabilizes and keeps the tissue relaxed in the nasopharynx during sleep.

"Although CPAP masks are available in a variety of varieties, there are a significant number of patients who can not or will not tolerate this therapy for a variety of reasons," says Dr. Philipp Schendzielorz, the head of the sleep laboratory of the VHF.

For this target group there is another treatment option with the tongue pacemaker.

Tongue muscles are activated

As the VHF reports, the tongue pacemaker consists of three functional interconnected elements, all of which are worn under the skin after implantation.

A sensor on the chest detects the breathing rhythm of the patient and passes it on to a neurostimulator with an integrated generator.

This module processes the respiratory signals and, in due time, sends electrical impulses to a stimulation electrode placed on the hypoglossal nerve (hypoglossal nerve).

The slight electrical stimulation of the nerve activates the tongue muscles, so that the tongue can not fall back.

The patient switches on the system with a remote control at the touch of a button at bedtime and turns off the morning after awakening. The remote control also allows the intensity of stimulation to be regulated by the patient.

Permanently improved quality of life

According to the manufacturer's instructions, the patients generally only perceive stimulation to a minimum or not at all. Usually a slight tingling or a slight contraction of the tongue muscles is felt.

The battery of the generator normally lasts for eight to eleven years and then has to be replaced with a short operation.

"The tongue pacemaker is a proven and safe treatment option," Dr. Schendzielorz.

According to him, the implant carriers benefit not only from a sustained reduction in nocturnal respiratory misfires, but also from a permanently improved quality of life and, ultimately, from a higher life expectancy.

"Untreated sleep apnea has a high risk of stroke and heart attack. In addition, an increased daytime sleepiness increases the danger of a microsleep at the wheel ", explains Dr. med. Schendzielorz. (Ad)