St. Luke’s University Health Network has expanded its sleep medicine program with the addition of the remedē® System, an implantable therapy for adults with moderate to severe central sleep apnea.
St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine, part of St. Luke’s Neurosciences, recently became the first program in the region to offer the remedē System. The first two procedures were performed by Dr. Darren Traub, section chief of electrophysiology.
The remedē System is designed to treat central sleep apnea, a condition in which the brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep. The device monitors breathing patterns and delivers gentle stimulation to the phrenic nerve to help restore a more natural breathing rhythm.
The addition expands St. Luke’s existing implantable sleep apnea treatment options, which also include Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation for eligible patients with obstructive sleep apnea and Genio® Bilateral Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation, a battery-free therapy that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to help keep the airway open during sleep.
“Sleep apnea is not a one-size-fits-all condition,” said Dr. David Cohen, SLUHN Section Chief of Sleep Medicine. “By offering the remedē System alongside Inspire and Genio, St. Luke’s can provide a broader range of evidence-based therapies and help more patients find a treatment option that improves both their sleep and overall health.”
According to St. Luke’s, sleep apnea affects millions of Americans and can contribute to excessive daytime fatigue, cardiovascular complications and other health concerns. Central sleep apnea is often associated with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, neurological disease and other underlying medical conditions.
St. Luke’s said patients are evaluated to determine the most appropriate treatment based on the type and severity of sleep apnea, anatomy, medical history and treatment goals.
“With the addition of the remedē System, St. Luke’s is further enhancing our ability to deliver personalized care for patients who may not have found success with traditional therapies,” adds Dr. Cohen. “Our goal is to ensure that every patient has access to the most advanced treatments available.”
Patients interested in learning more about the therapy can visit sluhn.org or speak with their physician about a referral for evaluation.
