Obstructive sleep apnea is a major clinical and economic challenge in the postoperative period, affecting up to one-fourth of patients undergoing elective surgical procedures. The prevalence among orthopedic patients having joint arthroplasty may be especially high because obesity is a widespread comorbidity in this patient population. Obesity is 1 of…
With obesity increasing across the country, it is not surprising that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also is on the rise. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), obesity offers a major—but not the only—clue that a patient may have, or be at risk for, OSA. A common health risk of obesity, OSA…
An alarming 80% of patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are undiagnosed and untreated before surgery. OSA occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat narrows and repeatedly closes during sleep. The brain responds by waking the person up, and breathing resumes. Those with…