Provent Nose Plugs for Sleep Apnea

January 14, 2010

I have to admit, the idea that you could treat sleep apnea with nose plugs was very interesting. Ventus Medical's Provent is a totally different type of sleep apnea treatment using adhesive plugs that works by making breathing out slightly more difficult through your nose. When you inhale, your breathing is normal, but as you exhale, a slight bit of resistance is created, creating a gentle amount of positive pressure downstream in the throat, preventing the tongue and soft palate from collapsing.

The scientific explanation is a little complicated (even for me), but the gist of it is that at the end of exhalation, that's when your throat muscles are most prone to collapse. So by slightly increasing the pressure, a stent-like effect is created, just like with CPAP.

Their study involved 28 people who used the device over 3 nights in the lab. On average, the AHI dropped about 50% (19.1 to 8.2) and after 30 days at home, it stayed low at 10.6. Other studies have also shown an average drop of about 50%. As expected, patents with severe sleep apnea didn't respond as well. You can find out more about the results at the companies' website.

Another study showed that 94% of patients continued using the device for a significant number of hours on a regular nightly basis.

Without a doubt, Provent does work to various degrees in various people. But just like every other new sleep apnea treatment option, it's not a "magic bullet" that cures sleep apnea for 100% of patients. Looking at the numbers, It seems like it's no better than other minimally invasive options (except that it's not invasive).

Practically speaking, I've had limited experience using this device in a handful of patients with mixed results. Some patients like it and others can't use it at all.

It's not covered by insurance yet, and it'll cost about $135 per month. They also have a rebate program for a 50% discount for the first few months. If you're interested in trying out Provent, an examination in the office is needed to make sure that you're a right candidate.

To learn more about Provent Therapy, click here.

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Sleep Health | Leave a Comment

Provent Nose Plugs for Sleep Apnea

November 10, 2009

Dr. Park describes a new treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea. For a free report on The Truth About Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: http://tinyurl.com/yl8hsk5

Written by neha · Filed Under Videos, obstructive sleep apnea | Leave a Comment

Provent: A New Way of Treating Sleep Apnea

April 24, 2009

I’ve been waiting a long time for Provent to be available to the general public. I saw a pilot study about this device in one of my sleep medicine journals 6 months ago, and was intrigued by how this device works. Essentially, it’s two nasal plugs that attach to your nostrils using adhesives. During inspiration, you can breathe normally, but during exhalation, it limits the amount of air that can pass through the device. The theory is that when there’s more resistance when you exhale, at the end of exhalation, a slight positive pressure effect is created in the throat, keeping your relaxed muscles more open.

Looking at the raw data, it does seem to make a difference, but it doesn’t really "cure" the problem. On average, it lowered the AHI by about 50%. In some people, the results were much better, and in others, it was actually worse.

Since it’s so new, insurance doesn’t cover it. A 30 day supply is about $135, but for a limited time, they’re offering a 50% discount. It must be ordered through a prescribing physician and will be mailed to your house.

I got some samples and will offer it to select patients to test it out. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | Leave a Comment