Innovative treatment for obstructive sleep apnea now available at St. John’s Health; Virtual presentation held August 11

St. John’s Health is now offering a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly disrupted during sleep. Sleep apnea affects millions of people in the U.S. Left untreated, sleep apnea symptoms can include disturbed sleep, high blood pressure, depression, heart attack, and stroke.

The apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open. The new treatment, called Inspire, provides stimulation to the upper airway to facilitate breathing during sleep. “Inspire treatment is great alternative for individuals who are unable to use a CPAP machine, a breathing assistance device used at night,” said Dr. Haven Malish, St. John’s Health pulmonologist. The device is placed by St. John’s ear, nose, throat specialist Martin Trott, MD.

“This surgical treatment option implants a small device called Inspire, an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment that works inside the body to treat the root cause of sleep apnea,” said Trott. “Mild stimulation from the device opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. A handheld remote control turns the Inspire device on before bed and turns it off upon waking.”

“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” said Shawna Giles, nurse practitioner at the St. John’s Sleep Center. “The Inspire device significantly reduces sleep apnea events and has a high level of patient satisfaction.”

Dr. Trott, Dr. Malish, and Ms. Giles will give a virtual presentation on this innovative new procedure on Tuesday, August 11 at 6 pm. To register for the Zoom health talk, click here.

For more information, go to www.stjohns.health/inspiresleep or call the St. John’s Sleep Disorder Center at 307.739.7305.

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Media contact:

Karen Connelly, Chief Communications Officer, kconnelly@stjohns.health, 307.739.7380