Transcutaneous electrical stimulation in obstructive sleep apnoea: current developments and concepts of the...

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Neuromodulation
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects approximately 1 billion people globally.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the primary treatment, but long-term adherence rates are low (30-60%).
• There is a significant need for alternative therapeutic options for OSA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy and safety of hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) and transcutaneous electrical stimulation in OSA (TESLA) as alternative treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea.
• To highlight the potential of non-CPAP therapies for patients with poor CPAP adherence.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent studies and randomized controlled trials, including the STAR and TESLA trials.
• Analysis of electrical stimulation techniques targeting the hypoglossal nerve.
• Evaluation of invasive (HNS) and non-invasive (TESLA) stimulation methods.

Main Results:

• Electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve promotes upper airway patency by stimulating the genioglossus muscle.
• Both HNS and TESLA have shown promising results regarding efficacy and safety in randomized controlled trials.
• TESLA offers a potentially low-cost and favorable safety profile.

Conclusions:

• HNS and TESLA represent viable alternative treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea, particularly for patients intolerant to CPAP.
• Further research and development of TESLA could lead to its wider adoption in OSA management.
• Patient and public interest underscore the demand for diverse therapeutic strategies in OSA treatment.