Ryan Gegg, DO, FAAOA, an ENT doctor, and the Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast surgical care team recently completed the first Inspire® therapy, Inspire VTM implant procedure. This advanced Inspire device simplifies the process with a built-in sensor that works seamlessly with natural breathing, eliminating the need for additional components.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, affecting 10% to 30% of adults1 in the United States. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart issues and depression.
Since establishing the Inspire therapy program two years ago, Dr. Gegg and Sacred Heart Emerald Coast have helped more than 165 patients.
“We’re excited to offer this enhanced treatment to help people sleep better and live healthier lives,” said Dr. Gegg, an ENT who performs surgeries at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “Inspire has been proven to significantly reduce sleep apnea episodes, and patients tend to adhere to it more readily than traditional treatments like CPAP.”
The Inspire device is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the airway becomes blocked during sleep. It is implanted during a brief outpatient procedure, allowing most patients to return home the same day. Discomfort is typically managed with over-the-counter pain medications.
The device operates while you sleep by maintaining an open airway, allowing for easier breathing. Inspire is FDA-approved for individuals with moderate to severe OSA who have found CPAP challenging to use.
If you've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and find CPAP ineffective, consult your doctor to explore whether Inspire could be a suitable treatment option for you.
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, a non-profit, Catholic hospital, is part of the Sacred Heart Health system that is recognized as one of the top 15 in the country by Fortune/PINC AI. The hospital also recently earned a spot on Newsweek’s Best in-state hospitals and received a five-star rating for patient recommendation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).. To learn more visit ascension.org/EmeraldCoastFL.
