The Johns Hopkins Center for Snoring and Sleep Apnea Surgery, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is a world-renowned institution dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As part of the esteemed Johns Hopkins Medicine family, the Center upholds a long-standing tradition of excellence in patient care, research, and education.
**History and Mission:**
The roots of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Medicine Program trace back to the mid-1970s with the establishment of a sleep research laboratory at what is now the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. This early focus on research laid the groundwork for the comprehensive clinical services offered today. The Center's mission is to offer a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to patient care, developing personalized treatment plans for those who have not found success with traditional therapies like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The team of dedicated professionals is committed to improving the quality of life for their patients by providing innovative and effective solutions for their sleep-related breathing disorders.
**Specializations and Approach to Treatment:**
The Center specializes in a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments for snoring and OSA. Their approach is highly individualized, beginning with a thorough evaluation that includes a general health assessment, a detailed sleep history, and a polysomnography (sleep study). An endoscopic examination of the upper airway (nasopharyngoscopy) is also performed to identify the specific areas of obstruction.
A key area of expertise at the Center is the use of **hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy**, featuring the FDA-approved Inspire® device. This innovative treatment offers an alternative for patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP. The Center's surgeons are highly skilled in this and other advanced surgical techniques.
**Facilities and Technology:**
The Johns Hopkins Center for Snoring and Sleep Apnea Surgery is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. The sleep laboratories, located at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center and the Levi Watkins, Jr, MD, Outpatient Center, are accredited by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). These labs offer a complete array of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including overnight polysomnography, CPAP and bi-level positive airway pressure titrations, multiple sleep latency testing, and maintenance of wakefulness testing. In-laboratory testing is complemented by portable sleep study monitoring for in-patients at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The Sleep Core Laboratory of the General Clinical Research Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center is also utilized for research studies.
**Conclusion:**
The Johns Hopkins Center for Snoring and Sleep Apnea Surgery stands at the forefront of sleep medicine, offering a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with snoring and sleep apnea. Through its commitment to personalized care, cutting-edge research, and a multidisciplinary team of experts, the Center empowers patients to "wake up with the energy to take on the day."
