[Submental transcutaneous electrical stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation while asleep has been used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), although without convincing results. Modern strategies consist of electrical muscle training for a number of weeks during wakefulness rather than stimulation during sleep.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to assess the practicability, safety, and efficacy of a new device, SilentOne (Imperpuls, Chemnitz, Germany).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Fifteen patients with various degrees of OSA used transcutaneous submental electrical stimulation therapy for 4-5 weeks every day, day and night. A patient's diary recorded practicability and potential adverse events. Respiratory parameters were recorded by fully attended polysomnography in the sleep lab. Daytime sleepiness and snoring were assessed by questionnaires.

RESULTS:

The apnea-hypopnea-index decreased from 29.2 before to 21.2 after therapy (P<0.05). Daytime sleepiness improved significantly (P<0.01) as did snoring (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation therapy using SilentOne proved to be safe, easy to use, and potent. However, therapy showed a limited cure rate.

• Authors: T Verse, J Schwalb, K Hörmann, B A Stuck, J T Maurer
• Journal: HNO (HNO) Vol. 51 Issue 12 Pg. 966-70 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0017-6192 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Transkutane, submentale Elektrostimulationstherapie bei obstruktiver Schlafapnoe.
• PMID: 14647925 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Airway Resistance (physiology)
• Circadian Rhythm (physiology)
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Floor (physiopathology)
• Muscle Tonus (physiology)
• Polysomnography
• Sleep Apnea, Obstructive (physiopathology, therapy)
• Tongue (physiopathology)
• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (instrumentation)
• Treatment Outcome
• Wakefulness (physiology)