A tongue pacemaker was used for the first time in a patient in Upper Austria

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the upper airways relax. This narrows or even blocks the airway in the throat area, causing loud snoring noises when breathing in and out. If longer breathing pauses occur during nighttime sleep, it is called obstructive sleep apnea. “This breathing disorder can have serious health consequences, since the body is not adequately supplied with oxygen due to the dropouts,” explains Prim. Univ.-Prof. Martin Burian, head of the ENT department at the Ordensklinikum Linz Sisters of Mercy.

The respiratory center in the brain triggers a wake-up stimulus and those affected wake up briefly. Often this happens in connection with palpitations and shortness of breath, which prevents deep sleep phases. The result is severe fatigue and difficulty concentrating during the day. In addition, patients with obstructive sleep apnea are more susceptible to mental illnesses due to a lack of nighttime recovery and have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack.

How does the hypoglossal pacemaker work? “The pacemaker including the breathing sensor is used in a similar way to a cardiac pacemaker and is connected to the tongue via a stimulation electrode. The targeted stimulation prevents the tongue from falling back during sleep and closing the airways, ”explains OA Dr. Hartl. The system continuously measures the breathing rhythm during sleep and adapts to the natural breathing rate. With a remote control, the person concerned switches the tongue pacemaker on at the push of a button before going to bed and off again in the morning after waking up.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

The diagnosis is made together with the sleep laboratory of the pneumology department at the Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen. The correct indication is a basic requirement for a good success of the implant. “The fact that we can now offer our patients, for whom therapy with the ventilation mask is not suitable, an effective alternative, means an enormous gain in quality of life for them,” says Prim. Assoz. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christopher Lambers, Head of the Pneumology Department, is pleased. So far there have been no alternative therapy options for those affected in Upper Austria. “We anticipate that around 150 patients in Austria each year will be eligible for treatment with the hypoglossal pacemaker,” said Prim. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Burian in conclusion.