title: Preoperative diagnosis and postoperative management of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a review of the literature.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common yet potentially fatal disorder. Several reports and clinical studies have established anesthetic-related occurrences of near-fatal respiratory complications in persons with this syndrome, as well as cases of death reported in the medical literature linking OSAS and anesthesia. The postoperative period is a critical time for patients with OSAS recovering from general anesthesia. The purpose of the literature review is to determine current treatment protocols and standards of care for preoperative diagnosis and postoperative management of adults with OSAS in an effort to prevent respiratory complications. The literature review includes recent studies on diagnosis of patients with OSAS. A treatment protocol for the postoperative management of adults with OSAS is also presented. Conclusions are drawn from a summary of the literature review. Future implications for nursing practice and research are drawn from the summary.
authors.affiliation: Houston Northwest Medical Center, TX, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jarrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires