Therapeutic electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve in obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to relieve upper airway obstruction acutely, but its effect on obstructive sleep apnea is not known.

Objective: To determine the response in obstructive sleep apnea to electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve.

Methods: Eight patients with obstructive sleep apnea were implanted with a device that stimulated the hypoglossal nerve unilaterally during inspiration.

Immediate intraoral adaptation of mandibular advancing appliances of thermoplastic material for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: In the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), mandibular advancing devices (MAD) are usually individually fabricated on plaster casts of both jaws from polymethyl-methacrylate. The potential disadvantages of these devices are (1) the costs and (2) the time required to construct the device.

Objective: In this study, the efficacy and feasibility of a cheap MAD consisting of thermoplastic material (SnorBan((R))), which can be directly moulded intraorally, were evaluated.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in acromegaly: the role of craniofacial changes.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is due to craniofacial changes and acromegaly. The question addressed by this study was whether growth hormone (GH) induced craniofacial changes might explain persisting OSA despite endocrine inactivity in acromegaly. Nineteen patients treated for acromegaly were examined cephalometrically for craniofacial changes and polysomnographically for OSA.

Nasal decongestion with imidazoline derivatives: acoustic rhinometry measurements.

Objective: The objective of this single-blind study was to establish whether there are any differences between conventional imidazoline-containing nasal drops with regard to duration of action and decongestion potential.

Methods: Six different substances were each administered to 108 healthy volunteers (nine groups of 12 adults), respectively, in the concentration recommended for adults (and two also in that recommended for infants) over a period of 8 h in comparison with 0.9% NaCl.

Sleep fragmentation and daytime vigilance in patients with OSA treated by surgical maxillomandibular advancement compared to CPAP therapy.

Impaired vigilance is a frequent daytime complaint of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). To date, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well established therapy for OSA. Nevertheless, in patients with certain craniofacial characteristics, maxillomandibular advancement osteotomy (MMO) is a promising surgical treatment.