Korean J Anesthesiol.  1998 Jan;34(1):175-181. 10.4097/kjae.1998.34.1.175.

The Analysis of Anesthetic Management in the 28 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Who Had Undergone Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty under the General Anesthesia

• Shin WJ
• Cheong MA
• Yeom JH
• Kim HS
• Kim YC
• Lee DH
• Suh JK
• Kim KS

• KMID: 2032360
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1998.34.1.175

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) exhibits repititive, prolonged episode of apnea during sleep with serious nocturnal and diurnal physiologic derangements. With their physiologic derangements, they are often obese, very sensitive to central depressant drugs and difficult to intubate. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential problems encountered in anesthetic management of adult OSAS.
METHODS
Anesthetic records of 28 patients with OSAS who had undergone the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) under the general anesthesia during the period of 1981 and 1996 years were analysed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Although past anesthetic records were not recorded completely, we discovered that the policy in selection of drugs with shorter duration of action time and not using central depressant drugs during the induction of anesthesia of adult OSAS patients were not kept.
CONCLUSIONS
Sleep apnea syndrome presents the anesthetists with many implications. In addition to difficulties of tracheal intubation imposed by anatomical features, these patients are sensitive to central depressant drugs particularly opioids. Anesthetic care, postoperative analgesia, cardiorespiratory management need to be handled with care.

Keyword

Anesthesia; Sleep: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Surgery: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

MeSH Terms

Adult
Analgesia
Analgesics, Opioid
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General*
Apnea
Humans
Intubation
Postoperative Care
Retrospective Studies
Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*
Analgesics, Opioid