Redefining Success with Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Therapy Effectiveness and Post-implant Monitoring

Monday, October 19, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Location: 403B

Panelist(s)

JC

Jolie Chang, MD

Professor
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States

Moderator(s)

CC

Courtney T. Chou, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
NYU Department of Otolaryngology
New York, New York, United States

Panelist(s)

Colin T. Huntley, MD

Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Education
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Yi Cai, MD

Director of Sleep Surgery
Columbia University
New York, New York, United States

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is an increasingly used therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, yet traditional “success” measures (e.g. titration polysomnography and AHI) have important limitations. This panel reviews contemporary paradigms for assessing HGNS effectiveness using home testing, consumer sleep technologies, and novel OSA metrics (e.g., hypoxic burden, heart rate response). Panelists will also cover practical post-implant care workflows for unilateral and bilateral devices, including optimization, troubleshooting, and management of common barriers to success. Attendees will leave prepared to evaluate HGNS outcomes longitudinally and take practical next steps to optimize therapy when results fall short.

Learning Objectives:

Describe limitations of traditional HGNS “success” measures (titration PSG/AHI) and apply contemporary OSA metrics to assess therapy success.
Describe potential applications of consumer sleep technologies in the longitudinal care of hypoglossal nerve stimulation patients.
Implement practical post-implant HGNS workflows (including troubleshooting and management of common barriers) to improve success for unilateral and bilateral HGNS devices.