Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with hypoglossal nerve stimulation in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of hereditary connective tissue disorders caused by defects in collagen synthesis and structure that manifests as tissue fragility, hypermobility, and vascular abnormalities. Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are at a high risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea due to increased tissue laxity in the upper airway, in addition to nasal-maxillary cartilaginous defects, scoliosis, or other abnormalities. Here we present the case of a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome who underwent successful treatment of obstructive sleep apnea using hypoglossal nerve stimulation after continuous positive airway pressure therapy failure, demonstrating that this can be a useful treatment modality in this population.