Perioperative management of OSA patients is a frightening and hazard fraught challenge.
–Terence M. Davidson, MD
This conference, presented by UC San Diego School of Medicine and the University of Toronto, has been developed as an educational opportunity to present and discuss the basic and more controversial areas of sleep apnea and anesthesia. The objective of the meeting is to provide a forum for discussions of medical problems unique to the perioperative care of sleep apnea patients and to promote excellence in medical care, research and education in anesthesia, sleep medicine and perioperative medicine.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent breathing disturbance during sleep. From estimations in the general population, a high proportion (24% men, 9% women) have an apnea hypopnea index of 5 or greater, and moderately severe OSA was present in 11.4% of men and 4.7% of women. It has been estimated that 90% of the patients with OSA in the general population are undiagnosed. Similarly, a significant proportion of these patients are undiagnosed prior to surgery. Severe OSA is a syndrome associated with hypoxaemia, hypercarbia, polycythaemia, cor pulmonale, and hypertension. From the standpoint of the anesthesiologist, there are concerns with difficult airways, and patient sensitivity to sedatives and analgesic medications. OSA has also been associated with an increase in postoperative complications. Therefore, OSA is increasingly being recognized as a significant perioperative concern. It is important for the anesthesiologists, surgeons and physicans to have the updated knowledge for the perioperative management of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Chung F et al Anesthesiology 2009; 111:A255
The learning objectives listed below are considered critical for improving knowledge about the basic and more controversial areas of obstructive sleep apnea, anesthesia and perioperative care.
By participating in this activity, the learner should be able to:
- Identify possible sleep apnea patients in preoperative clinic
- Evaluate recent clinical research in perioperative care, sleep, and anesthesia
- Review the pathophysiology of OSA and the neuroanatomy interactions for OSA development
- Discuss the differential aspects of anesthetics on upper airway patency
- Determine the challenging link between morbid obesity and OSA and their effects on airway management and ventilation
- Appraise the value of home sleep testing in the preoperative clinic and perioperative care
- Interpret the pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary arrest and explore strategies for monitoring in the inpatient wards
- Analyze medicolegal malpractice lawsuits against physicians during the perioperative care of OSA patients
- Formulate how to implement screening and treatment procedures for sleep-disordered breathing
This educational program is designed for anesthesiologists, surgeons, and physicians interested in the perioperative care of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Other healthcare professionals who may benefit from attending this event are nurses, certified nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners, anesthesia assistants, respiratory therapists, hospital administrators and anesthesia fellows or residents.
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