UAE hospital introduces implantable treatment option for sleep apnoea patients

The UAE has added a new advanced treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, with Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City rolling out an implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy for adults with moderate to severe forms of the condition, WAM reported.

Obstructive sleep apnoea causes repeated airway blockage during sleep and, if left untreated, can lead to serious long-term health complications. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy remains the standard treatment, a significant number of patients are unable to tolerate or continue using it.

The newly introduced therapy involves a minimally invasive procedure to implant a small device under the chin. The system is activated at night using an external disposable adhesive patch and rechargeable activation chip, delivering bilateral stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve to help keep the airway open during sleep. The stimulation is synchronized with the patient’s natural breathing cycle.

Eligibility assessments focus on anatomical suitability and disease severity. The therapy is intended for adults with an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) between 15 and 65 and is used as a second-line option for patients who have failed, refused or not tolerated positive airway pressure therapy. Patients with complete concentric collapse of the soft palate are excluded, while those with a body mass index of up to 35 kg/m² may still qualify.

The service is delivered through a multidisciplinary clinical pathway involving sleep medicine, otolaryngology and perioperative teams, with patients receiving counselling and guidance on nightly use of the external activation components.

Dr Abdulqader Almessabi, Chief Medical Officer at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said the introduction of implantable therapy expands care options for patients unable to continue conventional treatment and reflects the hospital’s focus on patient-centered solutions to prevent serious complications.

Dr Ahmad Al Shamsi, Chair of the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Division at the hospital, said the therapy supports the airway in coordination with natural breathing, offering targeted overnight support without the need for external masks or machines.