NCT07724938 Combination Tonsillectomy and Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for OSA Patients With Lateral Pharyngeal Collapse
| NCT ID | NCT07724938 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Condition | Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 72 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-09-15 |
| Primary Completion | 2030-08 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 72 participants in total. It began in 2026-09-15 with a primary completion date of 2030-08.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether removing the tonsils at the time of hypoglossal nerve stimulation improves treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults whose airway collapses from the side of the upper airway during sleep. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does hypoglossal nerve stimulation combined with tonsillectomy reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea more than hypoglossal nerve stimulation alone? 2. Does tonsillectomy improve how effectively hypoglossal nerve stimulation opens and stabilizes the upper airway? Researchers will compare participants who receive hypoglossal nerve stimulation with tonsillectomy to participants who receive hypoglossal nerve stimulation alone. Participants will: * Complete sleep studies, questionnaires, and other assessments before and after treatment * Be randomly assigned to receive hypoglossal nerve stimulation either with or without tonsillectomy * Return for follow-up visits and sleep testing to evaluate treatment effectiveness * In a subset of participants, complete additional overnight testing to measure how treatment changes upper-airway collapsibility
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/hour * Complete oropharyngeal lateral wall (OPLW) collapse identified on DISE * Candidate for HGNS implantation based on standard clinical criteria * Presence of small (1-2+) tonsils and eligibility for tonsillectomy * Untreated OSA at the time of enrollment * Willing and able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Absence of tonsils * Presence of large tonsils (3-4+; not eligible for HGNS) * Predominant central or mixed sleep apnea (\>25% central or mixed events) * Any unstable or serious medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would increase risk or interfere with study participation * Ineligibility for HGNS implantation based on standard clinical or surgical criteria * Inability to comply with study procedures or follow-up assessments
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07724938 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07724938 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07724938 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at dvena@bwh.harvard.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07724938 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Boston, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07724938 clinical trial?
NCT07724938 is sponsored by Brigham and Women's Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 72 participants.