“Will my sleep apnea impact anesthesia?”
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago, and I'm going to have surgery with general anesthesia next week. I want to know if my sleep apnea will impact anesthesia in anyway?
4 Answers
OSA patients should be evaluated by a pneumo and anesthesiologist before surgery and should be hospital-based. Complications could appear, but the anesthesiologist is prepared for that.
The biggest risk factor for sleep apnea is obesity. Obese people with sleep apnea can have more difficult airways...meaning it can be more challenging to insert a breathing tube when they are asleep. Good anesthesia providers can still safely care for you. As well, having sleep apnea can affect the amount of pain medication and sedatives you are given, as your sleep apnea is more pronounced when you are sedated. If you have and use a CPAP or BiPAP machine, you can remedy this problem as well. If you do not have a machine, and your sleep apnea is significant, it can occasionally require that you stay in the hospital overnight. Whatever is you planned procedure, typically you are requested to bring your machine with you.
Finally, if obesity is a contributor to your sleep apnea, it put you in general higher risk for complications...not related to anesthesia specifically, but overall. Thing like starting IVs, airways, surgical procedures, etc., can all be more difficult. As well, wound infections are more common in obese patients, especially if they have diabetes.
Hope this answers your questions.
Finally, if obesity is a contributor to your sleep apnea, it put you in general higher risk for complications...not related to anesthesia specifically, but overall. Thing like starting IVs, airways, surgical procedures, etc., can all be more difficult. As well, wound infections are more common in obese patients, especially if they have diabetes.
Hope this answers your questions.
You will need more monitoring in the post-op time to prevent apnea, 1 to 2 extra hours.
Yes, it might
