Dr. Tapan Padhya (right) implanting Inspire device
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has achieved a significant milestone for its comprehensive and nationally recognized TGH Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Institute, and the successful completion of an Inspire® implant surgery on a pediatric patient diagnosed with Down syndrome and sleep apnea. The groundbreaking procedure is the first of its kind in Florida.
The surgery was performed by University of South Florida (USF) Health otolaryngologist Dr. Abhay Sharma, assistant professor and director of the Division of Interventional Sleep Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. He was assisted by Dr. Tapan Padhya, chief of the TGH ENT Institute; professor, chair, and chief of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology; professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; and founder and co-director of the USF Health ENT Sleep and Snoring Center. Both are full-time academic faculty members in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
TGH ENT Institute will accept referrals from Florida’s East Coast for pediatric patients with Down syndrome between the ages of 12 and 18. TGH recently expanded into Florida’s East Coast to create a framework of state-of-the-art services that connect patients in the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast areas. Patients who undergo surgery at Tampa General Hospital will receive postoperative care at home with their network of local experts and health care services in Palm Beach and Martin counties.
“More than half of children with the genetic disorder Down syndrome have sleep apnea,” Padhya said. “This implantable device marks a substantial improvement in obstructive sleep apnea care for preteens and teenagers with Down syndrome, and provides greater peace of mind for their parents.”
