As an alternative of counting on a steady optimistic airway strain (CPAP) machine for reduction, the College at Buffalo (UB) has launched an FDA-approved system that’s surgically inserted to ship light stimulation to nerves controlling muscle tissues that open the airway for sleep apnea victims, the college introduced Tuesday.
The information comes after Michael Markiewicz, DDS, MD, MPH, professor and Feagans Endowed Chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical procedure on the College at Buffalo Faculty of Dental Medication, carried out the primary implant nerve stimulator surgical procedure on two sufferers at Kaleida Well being in October.
Every surgical procedure took lower than two hours, mentioned Markiewicz, including the primary two sufferers went house shortly after.
“We noticed them per week later for a wound examine, they usually had no points,” mentioned Markiewicz, who additionally serves because the medical co-director of the Laurence C. Wright Craniofacial Middle at Oishei and as an attending head and neck surgeon at Roswell Park Complete Most cancers Middle.
He’s hoping to increase the scope of this surgical procedure by together with youngsters.
Whereas the implant system has been available on the market for nearly a decade, it has not been broadly utilized in Buffalo, and solely a few surgeons, together with Markiewicz, carry out the process.