SASM issues guideline on intraop management of adults with OSA

Editor's Note

The Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine (SASM) has issued a new guideline on Intraoperative Management of Adult Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Specific aims of the guideline are to:

• evaluate considerations of difficult airway management in patients with OSA
• assess the impact of anesthesia-related drugs and agents in patients with OSA
• evaluate best anesthetic techniques in patients with OSA.

This guideline is a follow-up to the previously published SASM Guideline on Preoperative Screening and Assessment of Adult Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea; however, it focuses only on intraoperative patient care. Postoperative care issues are not considered.