gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: The MAS has gained in importance for treatment of oSRBD throughout the past years, especially for the mild and moderate forms. Studies have shown their positive effect on the upper airway during sleep, but predictors for successful treatment are still missing. Patient’s individual adequate supply may cause various problems.

Methods: We report about 110 patients, who we gave advice for MAS since 1998. Special interests are on effectiveness and long-term-acceptance. Furthermore the cooperation of health care providers (sleep laboratory (SL), dentist, resident, health insurance) is checked.

Results: Over the past 7 years the number of advice for MAS increased. Advancing splint technology and resulting patient’s comfort and effectiveness, increasing number of patients with mild and moderate oSRBD, as well as gaining more experience with MAS in SL are reasons for that. It is shown that just 51% of the patients have finally got a splint. In SL-controls 82% of them could be treated successfully. The individual effectiveness was not predictable.

Conclusion: The MAS has become an important option for treatment of oSRBD. Accurate selection of patients will assure success of treatment, which has to be controlled. The cooperation of health care providers concerning MAS needs to be improved.