The only FDA approved minimally invasive sleep apnea treatment, which eliminates the need for masks and traditional cumbersome sleep equipment, is now available in South Florida. It is only being managed in Palm Beach County by the doctors from Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Institute of South Florida (PCSI), with offices in Wellington and Atlantis.
The physicians are no strangers to pioneering new medical technology and practices. They were the first in Florida to utilize Spire Health Tags for remote patient monitoring and the first trained in South Florida on the revolutionary Monarch Robot technology used to biopsy lung nodules previously deemed inaccessible by dated equipment. Now Dr. Alan Bakst and Dr. Jay Maizes, sleep experts within the group, have completed the training necessary to manage the care for patients who qualify for this new technology, making them the only sleep physicians in Palm Beach County currently offering this innovation in sleep disorder management.
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, nearly 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea and complain of symptoms consisting of excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, dry mouth, headache and abrupt awakening. The widely used current treatment option, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, includes a shoebox-sized pump, hoses, a mask and is met with its own set of complaints.
“The CPAP does take some time for our patients to get used to. Some of the common complaints we hear are dry mouth, noisy equipment, feeling claustrophobic, unintentional removal of the mask while sleeping and difficulty sleeping,” Bakst said. “We can usually help mitigate some of the discomfort through proper sizing, teaching and adjustments, but there are some patients who still find it intolerable.”
The new technology, Inspire, offers patients an alternative to conventional external equipment.
“A great night’s sleep is as incredibly important as exercising and healthy eating habits. By being able to offer our patients this new technology, we hope to increase compliance with sleep apnea treatments. By improving an individual’s sleep quality, you are improving their quality of life,” Maizes explained.
The small device, surgically implanted through an outpatient procedure by way of two small incisions, sits just below the chest wall and works inside of the body with the natural breathing cycle by delivering mild stimulation to key airway muscles allowing the airway to remain open while sleeping.
Thirty days after the procedure, the patient is seen at either PCSI location. During the visit, the patient will receive thorough training on the complete use of Inspire, and upon complete understanding, Bakst or Mazies will activate the device.
To learn more, or to schedule an appointment at either of the Wellington or Atlantis offices, visit www.pscisfl.com or call (561) 967-4118.
