We’re pleased to share that Scott McCusker, MD, and Shoab Siddique, MD, Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, completed the first Inspire procedure at the Outpatient Surgery Center at Mercy General Hospital. The Inspire system is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for people who cannot use standard Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.

 

OSA affects 22 million Americans and occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. 

 

Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. The Inspire system is implanted during a short, outpatient procedure and works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat the disorder. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.  

 

The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during the STAR clinical trial, and five-year STAR trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. 

 

“We are proud to have successfully completed the first Inspire procedure at Mercy General Hospital. This treatment is a great advancement for appropriate patients in the treatment of OSA,” said Dr. McCusker. 

 

“These positive results lay the groundwork for a new approach to treatment and bring us closer to our goal of providing more tailored options for people living with this disorder,” added Dr. Siddique. 

 

“We look forward to offering the Inspire system to more people living with OSA in hopes of improving their quality of life,” said Deanne Nyland, MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group who will also be performing these cases. 

 

To learn more about Inspire, please visit InspireSleep.com.