"Results from an international randomized study show that an implanted nerve stimulator significantly improves symptoms in those with central sleep apnea without causing serious side effects. Dr. William Abraham colead author and director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center presented findings from the study at the recent European Society of Cardiology Congress in Rome. The study is published today by The Lancet. Unlike the more common obstructive sleep apnea in which the airway partially collapses and causes pauses in breathing central sleep apnea CSA occurs when the brain fails to control breathing during sleep. CSA is a serious concern because it affects about a third of people with heart failure and its known to make the condition worse Abraham said. Currently we dont have good treatments available. Positive airway pressure devices have been used but many patients dont tolerate them well and a recent study showed them to be harmful. Abraham along with lead author Dr. Maria Rosa Costanzo at Advocate Heart Institute in Naperville IL led the study at  hospitals in the United States Germany and Poland. The research team tested the safety and effectiveness of a transvenous phrenic nerve stimulator made by Respicardia Inc. Much like a pacemaker it sends a regular signal telling the diaphragm to breathe during sleep. In the randomized study  patients were implanted with the device. Ten were excluded due to nonstudy related medical issues or deaths exiting the study or missing visits. During the first six months of evaluation  devices were activated for treatment while  were left inactive as the control group. Between six and  months of followup all patients received the neurostimulation treatment. At the six month evaluation the device reduced CSA events per hour by half or more for  of the  members  percent of the treatment group. Only eight  percent of those in the control group achieved the same reduction. Other important sleep measures such as the amount of time spent with a low blood oxygen level were also significantly improved. About a third of patients in the treatment group reported therapyrelated discomfort that was resolved with some reprogramming of the device. Not only did we see this reduction in events per hour the patients also rated themselves better on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale meaning they were less sleepy during the day and on a global assessment of their overall quality of life Abraham said. This tells us the effects of neurostimulation are clinically relevant and this could be a promising therapy for those with central sleep apnea. In addition to Abraham Ohio States Dr. Rami Khayat and Dr. Ralph Augostini participated in this research making Ohio State one of the high enrolling centers participating in the study worldwide.  The study was funded by Respicardia. Abraham is a consultant for the company."