V.O.A.T procedure.

[Inspectorgene]

Just heard of it.

I live in Georgia and there are centers within 50 miles of me that perform it.

Any opinions?

Anybody had it done?

http://www.sleepandsinuscentersofgeorgia.com/

[grayghost4]

sounds like "Snake oil" to me

[49er]

Just heard of it.

I live in Georgia and there are centers within 50 miles of me that perform it.

Any opinions?

Anybody had it done?

http://www.sleepandsinuscentersofgeorgia.com/

Hi Inspectorgene,

I have not heard of this and thought I was familiar with all alternatives to cpap for sleep apnea. Are you seriously considering having this done or just curious?

Basically, here is the question I would ask if I was going to have this done. What percentage of this doctor's patients end up with an AHI of less than 5 and was the average time this effect lasts. Of course, there are other important questions to ask but that is the one that comes to mind.

Hope this helps.

49er

[49er]

sounds like "Snake oil" to me

And your proof is? It may not have a great success rate but that doesn't necessarily mean it is snake oil.

[Inspectorgene]

Not considering other than maybe a consultation at this time.

They claim a good success rate.

[49er]

Not considering other than maybe a consultation at this time.

They claim a good success rate.

Hmm, they need to give you specific statistics regarding AHI success rates as I mentioned in my previous posts. Claiming a good success rate is way too vague for in office surgery. If they can't answer your question or refuse to answer it, then I would change my mind and agree with grayghost about this being snakeoil.

If you have a consultation, please let us know what they say.

[chunkyfrog]

That is one nice-looking, slick website, maybe a bit too slick.
Descriptions are enthusiastically one-sided; I would have preferred peer review links,
--or at least a suggestion of research or organizational corroboration.
If what they are offering is significant, they fail to present it in any but a purely commercial setting. Scary!
I am somewhat disturbed that the outfit has such a varied menu of products and services, like a mini medical mall,
or the DME I fired that was chock full of power chairs and motorized recliners. (Hearing aids: REALLY?)

[palerider]

sounds like "Snake oil" to me

the testimonial video from doc oz was enough to sway me over to your side.

[49er]

That is one nice-looking, slick website, maybe a bit too slick.
Descriptions are enthusiastically one-sided; I would have preferred peer review links,
--or at least a suggestion of research or organizational corroboration.
If what they are offering is significant, they fail to present it in any but a purely commercial setting. Scary!
I am somewhat disturbed that the outfit has such a varied menu of products and services, like a mini medical mall,
or the DME I fired that was chock full of power chairs and motorized recliners. (Hearing aids: REALLY?)

Great points CF.

I had written a response but it got lost. I will just say that as someone who has not succeeded with pap therapy, I hope it turns out to be a viable option for people who can't use the pap machine. Only time will tell if it is or isn't.

[Inspectorgene]

Another link.

Atlanta TV station did an interview with the Doc.

Not really a good interview...

http://www.sleepandsinuscentersofgeorgi ... nd-company

[Krelvin]

A Tracheotomy would be significantly more effective, but might be harder to market.

[chunkyfrog]

You almost don't need a voice stress analyzer to hear the tension in his voice.
He is definitely not comfortable with being interviewed.

[49er]

You almost don't need a voice stress analyzer to hear the tension in his voice.
He is definitely not comfortable with being interviewed.

Right again CF. Hmm, he said 75% of all patients are cured from sleep apnea. Wonder what his definition is of a cure.

I am still trying to keep an open mind even though a part of me is quite skeptical. I mean, the first physician who decided to do a septoplasty without packing was probably thought of as a quack. Now, hardly any ENT uses it for the procedure.

49er

[archangle]

sounds like "Snake oil" to me

And your proof is? It may not have a great success rate but that doesn't necessarily mean it is snake oil.

Isn't it the responsibility of the seller of the new and novel treatment to prove it works, rather than the skeptics?

The Dr. Oz recommendation makes me skeptical. If he recommended that diabetics should monitor their blood surgar, I'd have to ask myself if that's really a good idea.

I note that on the video on their web site at http://www.sleepandsinuscentersofgeorgi ... at-reviews, Dr. Oz doesn't actually mention VOAT, just says that there are options other than CPAP.

The site just reeks of snake oil to me. That doesn't mean the procedure is invalid, but whoever is doing their promotion sounds sleazy to me.

It appears to be a radio frequency ablation procedure. There is a patent: http://www.google.com/patents/US20140066721. Note that a patent doesn't mean the procedure works or works well. At best, it means there's something unique in the process.

I am hoping that some sort of surgical or mechanical will be THE cure for apnea and free us from CPAP one of these days. RF ablation is promising in a lot of ways. I want a lot of others to be the guinea pigs on any procedure and have a lot of years of results before I let someone start cutting or burning me.

[Sleeprider]

Pretty much, I run the other way from whatever Dr. Oz is hawking.