Serial Submental Stimulation during Sleep in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

We previously reported that submental electrical stimulation may be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (Miki et al., 1989a, Hida et al., 1991). The mechanism of relief of apneic episodes during submental stimulation may be the contraction of genioglossus and/or geniohyoid muscles, which would open the upper airway by pulling the tongue forward (Miki et al, 1989b, Gottfried et al., 1983). However, the effects of submental stimulation during consecutive nights on apneic episodes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have not been studied. In the present study in order to assess whether submental stimulation is necessary for treatment every night, we examined the effects of submental stimulation for a serial four or five sleep nights on apneic episodes and changes in apneic episodes on stimulation-off nights after the stimulation nights using a portable submental stimulator which we have developed.