A sleep apnoea implant is being offered in the South West as an alternative for patients unable to tolerate CPAP machines.
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it had become the first trust in the South West to offer the implantable device for obstructive sleep apnoea.
The device is implanted inside the chest or fitted under the chin, depending on the system used.
It works by stimulating the muscles that keep the airway open during sleep, helping to prevent breathing interruptions and snoring.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition in which the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop and restart.
The condition affects thousands of people across the UK and is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure, known as CPAP.
CPAP uses a mask and machine to keep the airway open during sleep.
Although CPAP can be effective, some patients find the machines difficult to tolerate or feel claustrophobic using them.
The new implant is intended for selected patients who are unable to use CPAP.
Mr Joseph Sinnott, ear, nose and throat consultant at the trust, said: “This is a very exciting development for our patients. While CPAP remains the gold standard for many, we know it doesn’t work for everyone. Being able to offer this implant gives us a new way to support people whose sleep apnoea has been difficult to manage.
“For the right patients, this treatment can be life-changing, improving sleep, reducing daytime fatigue, and lowering the risk of serious long-term conditions such as heart disease or stroke.”
Catherine Turnbull recently became the first patient in the region to undergo the procedure.
She was fitted with an Inspire device, one of two implant systems the trust will use. The other is supplied by Genio.
Turnbull said: “I stop breathing many times in the night because my tongue falls over my airway and I snore, badly. The device is revolutionary, I think. I won’t be tied to a CPAP machine, nobody knows its there and I can just live my life normally.
“If I want to stay away somewhere for the night, I won’t need to think about taking anything with me. When I’m travelling, I won’t need to lug a CPAP machine with me anywhere.
“It’s really good, really exciting and will mean I can prolong my life. It’s definitely the way forward.”
Patients being considered for the implant will undergo a detailed assessment by the trust’s multidisciplinary sleep team to ensure the treatment is suitable for their condition.
A multidisciplinary team brings together healthcare professionals from different specialisms to decide whether a treatment is suitable for an individual patient.
Ed Holyoak, director UK and Nordics for Inspire Medical Systems GmbH, said: “We are truly grateful to Mr Sinnott and the whole team at the Great Western Hospital for their trust in Inspire therapy.
“It takes significant commitment to pioneer a new programme like this. Congratulations on this milestone, which opens up a huge opportunity for patients in the South West who cannot benefit from CPAP.”
The trust said the service would help bring treatment closer to home for patients with sleep conditions in Swindon and the wider region.
