Have they ever attempted to use a Stent to treat OSA?

[john_dozer]

A lot of this depends on where the collapse in a person's airway exists, but I'm wondering if there was ever any research or investigation into using something like a stent to prevent the collapse of the airway? Its like a metal mesh in the shape of a tube used to keep passages open and expanded.

A stent looks like this:

from here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stent (Warning: medical pictures may be NSFW by a strict interpretation and also kind of gross)

I'd expect a respiratory application would need a liner.

[rested gal]

Interesting thought, john_dozer. Swallowing might be a problem.

[WearyOne]

I agree, swallowing would probably be an issue, and also your gag reflex, I would think.

[john_dozer]

For swallowing, I'd imagine it could have give and be 'springy' since 20 cm of pressure from water is almost nothing and it does the job.

As for the gag reflex, perhaps that would take time to adjust. It might be unsettling for several days or weeks but I think you could get use to its presence and then you would be home free. Undoubtedly one of the obstacles to making this work. Kind of why I'm asking if anyone ever heard of anything.

I would go through a couple weeks of hell if I never had to hook up the hover again. I guess it depends on the person.

[docfox]

The only way I could see this work is for a damaged section that was short. Swallow and just feel how many muscles are at work. And when the do not work in order precisely, you can get hiccups (although theories on hiccups do vary from pure physical to psychosomatic).

And what insurance company would cover it when a CPAP works well for a fraction of the price of an operation? My back could be fixed with a very expensive surgery. My insurance company will not pay for it saying that it is "elective surgery" and that I obviously do not need it. So instead I am probably addicted to pain meds. It is cheaper.

It is not like a heart stent to keep you alive. No, I doubt research will be done or the procedure taken seriously. To many obstacles and a high probability of no pay-off down the road.

Jim

[OldLincoln]

How about a series of rings (like the hose) spaced far enough to allow swallowing but close enough to prevent collapse? If the ring was of a flat material it may snuggle into the tissue where it is secured. Only issue is food getting through.

[OldLincoln]

It is not like a heart stent to keep you alive. No, I doubt research will be done or the procedure taken seriously. To many obstacles and a high probability of no pay-off down the road. Jim

Yeah, now if it were a stent to make the penis larger look out. You'd get run over on the way to the doc to get one.

[datracer99]

I was told by my doc that the reason we humans have this problem is that the part of the airway that collapses is the flexible part needed for speech. So if you fix it it you would not be able to talk anymore. In that context, cpap sounds good.

[john_dozer]

I was told by my doc that the reason we humans have this problem is that the part of the airway that collapses is the flexible part needed for speech. So if you fix it it you would not be able to talk anymore. In that context, cpap sounds good.

Maybe its a better treatment for spouses than yourself.

[nate fry]

The fix your septun and shrink your turbinates and sometimes remove your tounsils.