(Batesville, Ark.)  — Douglas Gottschalk, DO, Otolaryngologist (ENT) at WRMC ENT Clinic, completed the first Inspire procedure on October 14, 2021 at White River Medical Center (WRMC) in Batesville. Inspire is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment for people who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. 

OSA affects 22 million Americans. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night causing poor, disruptive sleep. Left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up. 

The Inspire system is implanted during a short, outpatient procedure. The device is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through two small incisions. Most patients return home the same day and manage any post procedure discomfort with over-the- counter medication.

The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during the STAR (Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction) clinical trial. Five-year STAR trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. There have been over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire showing results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial. 

“We are excited to have Dr. Gottschalk complete the first Inspire procedure at WRMC,” said Gary Paxson, White River Health President & CEO.  “Inspire represents a significant advancement in sleep apnea treatment. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events, has a high level of patient satisfaction and high therapy adherence.”

Dr. Gottschalk received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.  Dr. Gottschalk served in the Air Force as a Flight Surgeon at Whiteman AFB in Missouri prior to ENT training. He completed a General Surgery Internship and Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dr. Gottschalk is skilled in head and neck surgery, including sinus surgery, ear surgery, tonsillectomy, and facial plastic surgery to correct congenital deformities. He also specializes in the medical treatment of allergies, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and other disorders of the ears, nose, and throat. To learn more about Inspire, please visit InspireSleep.com or WhiteRiverHealthSystem.com.

Dr. Gottschalk is a provider at the WRMC ENT Clinic, located at 1700 Harrison Street, Suite H, in Batesville. The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8AM to 4:30PM. Appointments can be made by calling (870) 262-4700.

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