More Complications for Surgery Patients with Sleep Apnea

A study has shown that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had a greater number of serious medical complications following elective surgery than patients who did not have OSA. Conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA), the study was published in the September 2001 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The study involved 101 patients with OSA and 101 without. Following elective knee or hip-replacement surgery, 24% of OSA patients had adverse postoperative outcomes compared to only 9% of patients without OSA. The researchers also found that the length of the hospital stay was significantly longer for patients with OSA (almost seven days) compared to patients in the control group (five days). The adverse findings in OSA patients are likely caused by the fact that patients are expected to remain on their back after the operation and by the fact that use of intravenous narcotics after the operation may precipitate or aggravate respiratory complications. Most complications occur within the first 24 hours.

"Although we intuitively had concerns that obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing surgery were at increased risk of complications, there is very little information about this,” said Dr. Peter C. Gay, of Mayo Clinic. "The next study we wish to pursue is to show that the evaluation and treatment of these patients beforehand can actually help reduce the increased post-operative risks.”


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