Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and postoperative complications: clinical use of the STOP-BANG questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether high risk scores on preoperative STOP-BANG (Snoring, Tiredness during daytime, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, Body mass index, Age, Neck circumference, Gender) questionnaires during preoperative evaluation correlated with a higher rate of complications of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
Historical cohort study.


METHODS
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


METHODS
Adult patients undergoing elective surgery at a tertiary care center who were administered the STOP-BANG questionnaire for 3 consecutive days in May 2008.


METHODS
Number and types of complications.


RESULTS
A total of 135 patients were included in the study, of whom 56 (41.5%) had high risk scores for OSAS. The mean (SD) age of patients was 57.9 (14.4) years; 60 (44.4%) were men. Patients at high risk of OSAS had a higher rate of postoperative complications compared with patients at low risk (19.6% vs 1.3%; P < .001). Age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 3 or higher, and obesity were associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. On multivariate analysis, high risk of OSAS and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 or higher were associated with higher odds of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The STOP-BANG questionnaire is useful for preoperative identification of patients at higher than normal risk for surgical complications, probably because it identifies patients with occult OSAS.
Vasu
Tajender S
TS
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. tajender.vasu@jeffersonhospital.org
Doghramji
Karl
K
Cavallazzi
Rodrigo
R
Grewal
Ritu
R
Hirani
Amyn
A
Leiby
Benjamin
B
Markov
Dimitri
D
Reiter
David
D
Kraft
Walter K
WK
Witkowski
Thomas
T
D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires