Anesthetic Implications for Patients With Implanted Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulators: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition impacting over one billion individuals worldwide.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the primary treatment for OSA.
• Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an emerging surgical alternative for patients intolerant to CPAP.

Observation:

• Patients with implanted hypoglossal nerve stimulators will increasingly require general anesthesia or deep sedation for medical procedures.
• Anesthetic management for these patients presents unique challenges due to the implanted device.
• This case report details the experience with one patient undergoing anesthesia with an HNS device.

Findings:

• The presence of an HNS device necessitates careful planning and execution of anesthetic care.
• Potential interactions between the HNS device and anesthetic agents or procedures must be considered.
• Successful anesthetic management requires collaboration between anesthesiologists and surgeons.

Implications:

• This experience can inform the development of future guidelines for the anesthetic management of patients with HNS devices.
• Standardized protocols may improve patient safety and optimize outcomes for this growing patient population.
• Further research is needed to establish best practices for airway management and device compatibility during anesthesia.