WINSTON-SALEM — Dr. Michael Drucker, a cardiac electrophysiologist with the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute, has reached a significant milestone, completing his 100th implantable device procedure to treat central sleep apnea at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.
Central sleep apnea, a rare condition affecting less than 1% of adults, disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate breathing during sleep. Symptoms include pauses in breathing, sudden awakenings and excessive daytime fatigue. Left untreated, central sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues including heart failure and stroke.
To address this condition, an innovative implantable device, the remedē® System, acts like a pacemaker for the diaphragm — the muscle responsible for breathing. When a patient stops breathing during sleep, the device sends a signal to the diaphragm, prompting it to start working again so normal breathing resumes…