ABSTRACT
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (Inspire Medical Systems, Maple Grove, Minnesota) is
an innovative treatment option for eligible patients with moderate to severe obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA). Since U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 2014, over
18,000 patients have been implanted. The device includes an implanted pacemaker-sized
pulse generator, one sensing lead, and one stimulation lead. During sleep, inspirations
and expirations are detected by the sensing lead. At end expiration, the stimulation
lead triggers the hypoglossal nerve to contract and stiffen the tongue thus preventing
airway obstruction and improving OSA. Perioperative and perianesthesia nurses have
an important role in caring for these patients during all aspects of the surgical
insertion process: evaluation for eligibility, device implantation, and future visits
to the perioperative area for related and unrelated procedures. This article reviews
anatomic and physiologic factors contributing to airway collapse in OSA, function
of the hypoglossal nerve stimulation device, the evaluation, implantation, and activation
process, and considerations for patient care in the perioperative and perianesthesia
periods. Precautions needed for other therapies, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging,
diathermy, and radiation are also discussed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 23, 2022
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to report.
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
