Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Non-positive Airway Pressure Treatments

Clin Geriatr Med. 2021 Aug;37(3):429-444. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2021.04.005. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Abstract

Undiagnosed and untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with health comorbidities and negatively affects quality of life. Alternative treatments should be considered in patients who are unable to tolerate or benefit from positive airway pressure treatment. When properly indicated, positional devices, oral appliances, airway surgery, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation have been shown to be effective in treating OSA. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a successful second-line treatment with low associated morbidity and complication rate.

Keywords: Central apnea; Hypoglossal nerve stimulation; Obstructive sleep apnea; Oral appliance; Phrenic nerve stimulation; Sleep apnea surgery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglossal Nerve / physiology
  • Implantable Neurostimulators / adverse effects*
  • Mandibular Advancement
  • Phrenic Nerve / physiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome