Life-changing Sleep Apnea Surgery Available Only at Frederick Health

Frederick Health Ear, Nose, & Throat surgeons Wayne Cardoni and George Coppit have just completed their 100th Inspire® implant procedure—a mask-free surgical treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Frederick Health is proud to be the only health system in Frederick offering residents this innovative and life-changing treatment. 

The Inspire® implant is used to treat OSA by providing options for individuals who cannot tolerate or see results from traditional CPAP machines. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most fatal sleep disorders, and affects more than 25 million adults throughout the U.S. When left untreated, it can shorten lifespans and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, depression, and other serious health conditions. 

“CPAP therapy has a proven effectiveness as a nonsurgical approach to treating sleep apnea,” said Dr. Cardoni, “but there are some patients who have difficulty adapting to CPAP and ultimately consider it intolerable. My colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to provide a safe and effective alternative to the community.” 

Patients with neurological, cognitive, and certain physical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or severe arthritis have been known to have difficulties using CPAP. For these patients, untreated OSA can potentially worsen their existing conditions. 

Duane Schroyer, the 100th patient to receive the implant, used a CPAP machine to deal with his decades-long battle with OSA.  

“I have suffered with sleep apnea for more than 40 years,” said Schroyer. “I chose Inspire because I cannot tolerate wearing a CPAP mask every night.”  

The Inspire® implant presents an alternative for patients like Schroyer. The stimulator delivers gentle pulses to move the tongue forward and keep the airway open, without the need for a mask or hose. When the airway is open, patients are able to breathe regularly and sleep better. 

Other Frederick Health patients that have undergone the surgery have reported a positive sleep experience following their surgery.  

“I have snored loudly for years to the point it caused a strain in my relationship because I was keeping my wife awake,” said Connor English, another Inspire® implant recipient. He reported gasping for air multiple times throughout the night, sometimes multiple times per hour. “Since having the procedure, my snoring has gone away almost completely, and I do feel I sleep better. 

“It changed my life,” said Sidney Leather, who received the Inspire® implant from Frederick Health ENT surgeon Dr. Holly Rataiczak. Leather’s deciding factor for proceeding with the surgery was because his sleep apnea was causing issues with his heart.  

“I initially tried using a CPAP machine, but I could not tolerate the mask,” Leather said. “I would wake up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep.”  

Now, Leather reports several positive outcomes after having this procedure done. “It has allowed me to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but most importantly my heart condition has stayed the same and not declined.” 

Despite the wealth of health benefits treating sleep apnea provides, physicians say many in the community don’t realize this option exists. 

“Many people are still unaware that there are options beyond a CPAP machine if it fails them,” said Dr. Coppit. “The best way to treat the conditions associated with OSA is to prevent them. This implant procedure allows us to do that for many our patients who are intolerant of CPAP therapy.”  

Dr. Cardoni, Dr. Coppit, and Dr. Rataiczak are the only surgeons in Frederick offering this procedure, and among the few surgeons in Maryland trained to do so. Offering this surgical treatment is part of Frederick Health's strategic approach to comprehensive patient care.  

To learn more about sleep medicine and other innovations happening at Frederick Health, visit https://www.frederickhealth.org/services/sleep-medicine/.