Ryan Soose, MD, Featured on Headmirror’s ENT in a Nutshell Podcast

The UPMC Department of Otolaryngology’s Ryan Soose, MD, joined podcast host John Marinelli, MD, to discuss hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea on the Headmirror’s ENT in a Nutshell podcast. 

Sleep apnea is a common problem that spans all ages, genders, and ethnicities with many causes and presentations. Due to that fact, there is no one treatment that will be effective for all patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation was created for the millions of people that are still struggling with untreated sleep apnea and the associated quality of life effects and health risks.

Past research showed that stimulating the hypoglossal nerve with electrical stimulation results in increased air flow in addition to reduced collapsibility of the upper airway and anterior displacement of the tongue.

This research led to the Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction (STAR) clinical trial – a multicenter study across the U.S. and Europe that evaluated more than 100 patients with the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation system. 

“The early results are very positive. The therapy is still young, and we still have a long way to go. But I do think, in the big picture, it's been one of the biggest breakthroughs in sleep apnea treatment in decades,” says Dr. Soose.

Listen to Dr. Soose’s episode of ENT in a Nutshell.

About ENT in a Nutshell

Headmirror’s ENT in a Nutshell is a free podcast that provides clinical content presented by experts from a variety of specialties and institutions. Learn more about the podcast and access episodes here.