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Home>Sleep Disorders> Sleep apnoea increases risks in general anaesthesia
Sleep apnoea increases risks in general anaesthesia
Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are at high risk of developing complications when having surgery under general
anaesthesia, say researchers in this week's BMJ.
People with sleep apnoea temporarily stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep. The typical sufferer is overweight
and a heavy snorer. Obstructive sleep apnoea is the most common type, affecting 2% of women and 4% of men in middle age.
Surgeons of all specialties, and particularly anaesthetists, should be aware that obstructive sleep apnoea is undiagnosed in
an estimated 80% of patients, say the authors. They should be alert to patients who are at risk of having obstructive sleep
apnoea and be aware of the potential complications before and after surgery, even for surgery not related to the condition.
Options that should be considered include alternative methods of pain relief, use of nasal continuous positive airway
pressure before and after surgery, and surveillance in an intensive care unit, especially after nasal surgery, conclude the
authors.
(Risks of general anaesthesia in people with obstructive sleep apnoea)
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/329/7472/955
Contacts:
Cindy den Herder, Resident in Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, St Lucas Andreas Hospital,
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Email: c.denherder@slaz.nl
or
John Buijs, Public Relations, St Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands
 
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