have varying degrees
of accuracy across
different patient pop-
ulations.
Pre-operative test-
ing of serum bicar-
bonate level may
improve screening
accuracy, and other
parameters, such as
oxygen desaturation
index or cumulative
duration of oxygen
desaturation below
90%, may also
improve predictions.
• Have CPAP equip-
ment available. If
patients don't bring in
their own CPAP
equipment on the day
of surgery, consider
having equipment for
perioperative use
available.
For patients who've
previously been diag-
nosed with OSA, 2
recent large studies
suggest that CPAP
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 3 5
• Just how
prevalent is
the prob-
lem? It's
estimated
that 43% of
men and
27% of
women
between
ages 50 and
70 have
obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA), as do 26% of men
and 9% of women between 30 and 49.
• OSA is more common in patients who
present for surgery.
• It's estimated that up to 90% of individu-
als with moderate to severe OSA remain
undiagnosed. Not only don't they know
they have it, but they also lack sufficient
time before surgery to undergo formal
diagnostic sleep testing.
• OSA patients have a 2 to 3 times higher
risk of cardio-pulmonary complications
than patients who have no sleep apnea.
— Jim Burger
PREVALENT PROBLEM
Fast Facts About Sleep Apnea
• DO THEY EVEN KNOW? Around 43% of men
and 27% of women between ages 50 and 70 have
obstructive sleep apnea.
