CPAP Machines

U.S. News talked with doctors about the added risk to sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea during surgery.  The same risks patients face during sleep can become even more risky during a medical procedure, for several reasons:

• The patient may have trouble with the anesthesia - especially in obstructive sleep apnea cases (as opposed to central sleep apnea), where the problem is physical and often caused by a problem with properly relaxing the airways, the anesthesia may exacerbate the problem and cause dangerous post-surgery issues.
• The morphine can also mess with proper airway relaxation, causing the sleep apnea to flare up and cause problems.
• Pain medications can, again, cause more problems, especially since sleep apnea sufferers are more sensitive to them.
• Sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed, giving doctors no opportunity to prepare for it and have the proper precautions.

Those with mild sleep apnea don’t have much to worry about, but those who rely on a CPAP machine may need to go on one right after the surgery, in order to avoid complications.  Make sure your doctor knows about your sleep apnea, and that he or she is properly prepared with a CPAP machine on hand, if necessary.