Evaluation of a nasopharyngeal stent in patients with obstructive sleep-related breathing disorders

Objective This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and diagnostic value of a novel nasopharyngeal stent (Nastent; Corinium Medical Equipment Ltd., Cirencester, UK). The Nastent is designed to stent palatal collapse in patients with sleep-related breathing disorders. Methods The study was conducted from 2018 to 2019. Patients who did not qualify for continuous positive airway pressure therapy underwent split-night examination with an inserted Nastent for the first half of the night. The next morning, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) was performed. Results Of the 122 enrolled patients, 21 were excluded because of Nastent intolerance (n = 14) or technically invalid examinations (n = 7). Among the remaining 101 patients, in correlation with DISE, the apnea-hypopnea index was significantly reduced in patients with palatal obstructions, mainly in those with anteroposterior collapse patterns. The Nastent did not influence retrolingual or multilevel obstructions. Using a 40% reduction of the apnea-hypopnea index by the Nastent as a cut-off value, 85.7% of soft palate obstructions were detected compared with DISE. Conclusions The Nastent is a viable tool to reduce palatal obstructions, although it is not readily tolerated. It may also be helpful for diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders when DISE is unavailable.