[Neurostimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea]

One of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity. Pathophysiologically, OSA is caused by collapse of the upper airway due to a sleep-induced reduction in muscle tone. The gold standard treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy; however, due to limited adherence , it is insufficient as the sole treatment for some patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) as an alternative treatment aims to activate the protrusion muscles of the tongue, thereby stabilizing the airway. Clinical studies show a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and an improvement in daytime symptoms even in long-term data. A prerequisite for therapeutic success is careful and thorough patient selection.