I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea after participating in a sleep clinic.  I tried using the CPAP but was not successful.  My doctor keeps encouraging me to undergo a new procedure called the Pillar Procedure.  Has anyone heard of it?  I'm beginning to get a little concerned when I read about the possible effects of sleep apnea.

cmac67@juno wrote:

I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea after participating in a sleep clinic.  I tried using the CPAP but was not successful.  My doctor keeps encouraging me to undergo a new procedure called the Pillar Procedure.  Has anyone heard of it?  I'm beginning to get a little concerned when I read about the possible effects of sleep apnea.

To get additional information about the Pillar Procedure and to find a physician qualified to do the procedure you should visit pillarprocedure.com.

The Pillar Procedure is indicated for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Can you say more about why CPAP was not successful?

Ed

cmac67@juno wrote:

I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea after participating in a sleep clinic.  I tried using the CPAP but was not successful.  My doctor keeps encouraging me to undergo a new procedure called the Pillar Procedure.  Has anyone heard of it?  I'm beginning to get a little concerned when I read about the possible effects of sleep apnea.

Hi,

Response medical have started to push this procedure as a 'first line treatment for snoring and sleep apnoea'. It has received FDA approval.

There are only 2 studies available (that I am awarte of). First one was funded by Response Medical and comprised a total of 12 patients. 2 patients had the implants removed. The remainder were deemed successful, however they all had and AHI < 15 (mild apnoea) and were of normal weight. There was no follow up after 90 days, post procedure.

The other study (posted elsewhere on this forum) concluded that the Pillar Procedure worked well for snoring but more work would have to be done if it was to be used in treating OSA.

The procedure invloves implanting 3 plastic type 'stiffeners' (not unlike old fashioned shirt collar stiffeners) into the soft pallat. It is carried out in the ENTs office.

Personally I believe that it is in its infancy. No way is it first line treatment and all trsts to date seem to concentrate on sufferers with low AHI. I have not come accross any reports quoting anything (success or failure) beyond 6 months.

I believe that with moderate apnoea with an AHI of up to 30, success is gauged at a 50% improvement in AHI, so even if successful you may still require cpap. Personally, not something I would rush into.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

I've also been recently diagnosed with mild (a couple points under moderate) apnea.  My wife would tell you she know it years ago!  I've also been reserching the Pillar procedure.  I got some info from Restore.  I'll paste the text below.  Is there a better place on this site for pillar discussion?  I haven't found it yet.  


The Pillar® Procedure: OSA Clinical Research Synopsis
• Over 200 patients enrolled in OSA studies at multiple centers
• In clinical studies that have been completed, 80% or more of patients experienced reductions in AHI and as high as
63% of patients experienced reductions in AHI to = 10
• Reported complication rates during commercial use are approximately 1%


Clinical Research Summary OSA patients. N=201
Year Publications Investigator N* Results

2004
Accepted for Publication
Otolaryngology-HNS
(5/05)1
M. Friedman, MD 125
• 34% of patients experienced an AHI reduction >50% to an
AHI of <20
• 88% of patients had an improvement in VAS
• 64% of patients had an improvement in ESS


2004
Submitted to
Otolaryngology-HNS
(4/05)2
S. Nordgård, MD 30
• 80% of patients experienced a reduction in AHI at 90 days
• 48% of these patients experienced an AHI reduction to = 10
• ESS and VAS decreased by 43% and 49%, respectively


2004
Submitted to Annals of
Otology, Rhinology &
Laryngology (7/05)3
G. Hein, MD 16
• 81% of patients experienced a reduction in AHI at 90 days
• 63% of these patients experienced an AHI reduction to = 10
• ESS and VAS decreased by 36% and 43%, respectively


2004
Abstract submitted to
Otolaryngology-HNS
(1/05)4
R. Walker, MD 30
• 72% of patients experienced a reduction in AHI at 90 days
• ESS and VAS decreased by 37% and 45%, respectively


2005
Submitted to
Otolaryngology-HNS
(7/05)5
S. Nordgård, MD 26
• 81% of patients experienced a reduction in AHI at 1 year
• 58% of patients experienced an AHI reduction to = 10
• ESS and VAS decreased by 35% and 45%, respectively

*Patients may be represented more than once in this table.


As part of our continuing efforts, the following abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the September
2005 Annual
Meeting of the AAO-HNSF:
• Regina P. Walker, MD, et. al., “Palatal Implants: A New Approach for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea,�
oral presentation
• Regina P. Walker, MD, et. al., “Pillar Palatal Implants for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Patient Selection Optimization,�
poster presentation
• Brit Kari Stene, MD, “Long Term Follow-Up of Patients Treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Palatal Implants,�
oral presentation
1Friedman M, Vidyasagar R, Bliznikas D. Patient Selection and Effi cacy of the Pillar Implant Technique for Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep
Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome.
2Nordgård S, Stene B, Skjøstad K. Soft Palate Implants for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
3Hein G, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Maurer JT. The Pillar Palatal Implant System: First Results in OSA Patients.
4Walker RP, Levine HL, Terris DJ, Hopp ML, Greene D, Pang KP. Palatal Implants: A New Approach for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
5Nordgård S, Hein G, Stene B, Skjøstad K, Maurer JT. Long –Term Follow-up of Palatal Implants for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.


The Pillar® Procedure: Snoring Clinical Research Synopsis
• Over 130 patients enrolled in snoring studies at multiple centers
• The results of clinical studies on the use of the Pillar Procedure to treat patients suffering from socially disruptive
snoring have been published, accepted or submitted for publication in four different journals
• In clinical studies that have been completed, bed partner satisfaction ranged from 67-100%
Clinical Research Summary Snoring Patients, N=131
Year Publications Investigator N* Results
2001
Archives of Otolaryngology
(6/04)1 W. Wei, MD 12
• Snoring intensity decreased 39%
• Bed partner satisfaction 67%
2002 Acta-Otolaryngologica (10/04)2 S. Nordgård, MD 35
• Snoring intensity decreased 51%
• Bed partner satisfaction 86%
2002 Otolaryngology-HNS (1/05)3 J. Maurer, MD 15
• Snoring intensity decreased 66%
• Bed partner satisfaction 100%
2002
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-
Laryngology (8/04)4 T. Kühnel, MD 106
• Snoring intensity decreased 45%
• Bed partner satisfaction 72%
2003
Accepted for Publication by
Otolaryngology-HNS (6/05)5 S. Nordgård, MD 35
• Snoring intensity decreased 32%
• Bed partner satisfaction 71%
2003
Accepted for Publication by
Otolaryngology-HNS (7/05)6 J. Maurer, MD 40
• Snoring intensity decreased 32%
• Bed partner satisfaction 90%
2004
Submitted to Otolaryngology-
HNS (3/05)7 P. Catalano, MD 25
• Snoring intensity decreased 48%
• Bed partner satisfaction 90%
*Patients may be represented more than once in this table.
The following abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the September 2005 Annual Meeting of the AAO-HNSF:
• Ståle Nordgård, MD, PhD, Ketil W. Skjøstad, MD, “Consequences of Increased Rigidity in Palatal Implants for
Treatment of Snoring,� oral presentation
• Peter J. Catalano, MD, John H. Romanow, MD, “Effi cacy and Safety of Palatal Implants for the Treatment of Socially
Signifi cant Snoring,� oral presentation
1Ho W, Wei W, Chung K. Managing Disturbing Snoring With Palatal Implants: A Pilot Study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004; 130:753-758.
2Nordgård S, Wormdal K, Bugten V, Stene B, Skjøstad K. Palatal Implants: A New Method for the Treatment of Snoring. Acta Otolaryngol
2004; 124:1-7. 3Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Palatal implants for primary snoring: Short-term results of a new minimally invasive surgical technique.
Otolaryngology-HNS, 2005; 132:125-31.
4 Kühnel T, Hein G, Hohenhorst W, Maurer JT, “Soft Palate Implants: A New Option for Treating Habitual Snoring,� European Archives of Oto-Rhino
Laryngology 2005; 262:277-280.
5Nordgård S, Wormdal K,, Stene B, Skjøstad K. Palatal Implants for the Treatment of Snoring: Long–term Results.
6Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Long–term Results of the Pillar® Palatal Implant System for Primary Snoring.
7Romanow J, Catalano P, Effi cacy and Safety of Palatal Implants for the Treatment of Socially Signifi cant Snoring.
LRF-271 8/05

I understand the procedure is not covered by insurance, if that is of concern to you (Doreen Gentzler, NBC4 -- I probably have spelled that last name wrong).

The thought of someone inserting foreign pieces of material in my mouth is somewhat off-putting, but I guess they now make foreign materials that don't get you into trouble.  I had been told at other times that your body doesn't like foreign materials in it.

Judy