title: Does difficult mask ventilation predict obstructive sleep apnea? A prospective pilot study to identify the prevalence of osa in patients with difficult mask ventilation under general anesthesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), anesthesiologists may be in a unique position to rapidly identify patients who are at risk for undiagnosed OSA in the perioperative period. Identification is the first step in prompt diagnosis and potential prevention of OSA related comorbidities. Patients who exhibit unanticipated difficult mask ventilation (DMV) during induction of general anesthesia may be at risk of having undiagnosed OSA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association of OSA in patients with difficult mask ventilation under general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients were identified over a 2-year period at the time of anesthetic induction as being difficult to mask ventilate and were then enrolled in this prospective pilot study. After enrollment and informed consent, the patients were referred to the sleep study center for full overnight polysomnography to evaluate for the presence and severity of OSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of our cohort, 9/10 patients exhibited polysomnographic evidence of OSA, while the last subject tested positive for sleep disordered breathing. Eighty percent (8/10) of subjects espoused snoring, but only 10% (1/10) reported witnessed apneas. Average DMV was 2.5, and higher grades of DMV were associated with more severe OSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, difficult mask ventilation was predictive of undiagnosed OSA. Anesthesiologists may be in a unique position to identify patients at risk for OSA and prevention of related comorbidities.
authors: Department of Anesthesia and Operative Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA. anthonyrplunkett@gmail.com
authors: Anthony R
authors: AR
authors: Plunkett
authors: Brian C
authors: BC
authors: McLean
authors: Daren
authors: D
authors: Brooks
authors: Mary T
authors: MT
authors: Plunkett
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Mikita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology