Perioperative management of obstructive sleep apnea with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Abstract

The high risks associated with general anesthesia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients have been reported. Many authors have suggested that the intraoperative administration of opioids and sedatives should be limited or avoided because these drugs selectively impair muscle activity in the upper airway. We report the case of an OSAS patient who was managed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and treated safely in spite of the use of conventional anesthetic and analgesic agents typically used for patients without OSAS. She had little pain during the perioperative period. It is suggested that NCPAP is an effective treatment for not only preventing airway obstructive apnea but for allowing the administration of anesthetic and analgesic drugs without major complications.