Screening for obstructive sleep apnea before surgery: why is it important?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to review the screening tools available in the preoperative clinic for patients at risk of obstructive sleep apnea.


RESULTS
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent sleep disorder. An estimated 82% of men and 92% of women with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea have not been diagnosed. Patients with undiagnosed OSA may have increased perioperative complications. The perioperative risk of patients with OSA may be reduced by appropriate screening to detect undiagnosed OSA in patients. The snoring (S), tiredness (T) during daytime, observed apnea (O), and high blood pressure (P) (STOP) questionnaire is a concise and easy-to-use screening tool to identify patients with a high risk of OSA. It has been validated in surgical patients at preoperative clinics as a screening tool. Incorporating BMI, age, neck size and gender into the STOP questionnaire (STOP-Bang), will further increase the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV), especially for patients with moderate-to-severe OSA.


CONCLUSIONS
The STOP questionnaire is short and can be easily incorporated into routine screening of general or surgical patients.
Chung
Frances
F
Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, McL 2-405, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada. frances.chung@uhn.on.ca
Elsaid
Hisham
H
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012306:Risk; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000777:Anesthetics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives