A retrospective analysis of airway management in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and its effects on postanesthesia care unit length of stay

Abstract

The development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an increasingly prevalent condition in modern-day society and, especially, in the surgical population, is contingent on several risk factors including pharyngeal anatomy, obesity and genetics, among others. Therefore, recognizing OSA in perioperative settings and postdischarge planning is especially relevant. This study examined airway management techniques and difficulty of intubation in 91 adult surgical patients, the majority of whom had formally diagnosed OSA.