Outcomes of Sleep Apnea Surgery in Outpatient and Inpatient Settings

Safety of Ambulatory Surgery For Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Retrospective Review

OBJECTIVE

Assess the safety of ambulatory surgery performed for obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

Demographic data including age, gender, race, body mass index, insurance status, socioeconomic status, and distance traveled for surgery was collected, as well as comorbidities, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Outcome variables included continuous positive airway pressure reinitiation, planned/unplanned postoperative admission, emergency department (ED) presentation, or readmission within 7 and 14 days of surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 601 patients were included, who underwent sleep surgery between 2017 and 2022. The median age was 55 years [interquartile range: 19]. A total of 437 patients (73%) were male, 502 (84%) were Caucasian, and the median distance traveled was 20 miles [27]. The median AHI was 27.1 [26]. A total of 286 hypoglossal nerve stimulators, 12 tonsillectomies, 160 expansion sphincteroplasties (ESP), and 201 nasal procedures were performed. There were 9 (1%) planned and 23 (4%) total admissions postoperatively. Sixteen patients (2%) presented to ED within 7 days, and 22 (3%) within 14 days. Nine (1%) were readmitted within 7 days, and 12 (2%) within 14 days. There were significantly more planned admissions, unplanned admissions, ED presentations, and readmissions for ESP. There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical data between patients who underwent single versus multiple surgeries.

CONCLUSION

Outpatient sleep surgery is generally safe. Close postoperative monitoring is necessary and overnight observation should be considered in those with very severe sleep apnea and/or significant comorbidities. The distance a patient travels should also be considered for overnight admission.

Day-surgery adult patients with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: Current controversies and concerns

Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea are considered independent risk factors that can adversely affect perioperative outcomes. A combination of these two conditions in the ambulatory surgery patient can pose significant challenges for the anesthesiologist. Nevertheless, these patients should not routinely be denied access to ambulatory surgery. Instead, patients should be appropriately optimized. Anesthesiologists and surgeons must work together to implement fast-track anesthetic and surgical techniques that will ensure successful ambulatory outcomes.

Risk of diabetes in patients with sleep apnea: comparison of surgery versus CPAP in a long-term follow-up study

This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive view of the risk of developing diabetes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to compare this risk between patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy versus upper airway surgery (UAS). We used local and the global-scale federated data research network TriNetX to obtain access to electronic medical records, including those for patients diagnosed with OSA, from health-care organizations (HCOs) worldwide. Using propensity score matching and the score-matched analyses of data for 5 years of follow-up, we found that patients who had undergone UAS had a lower risk of developing diabetes than those who used CPAP (risk ratio 0.415, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.349-0.493). The risk for newly diagnosed diabetes patients showed a similar pattern (hazard ratio 0.382; 95% CI 0.317-0.459). Both therapies seem to protect against diabetes (Risk 0.081 after UAS vs. 0.195 after CPAP). Analysis of the large data sets collected from HCOs in Europe and globally lead us to conclude that, in patients with OSA, UAS can prevent the development of diabetes better than CPAP.

30-Day Postoperative Outcomes in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Upper Airway Surgery

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder of the upper airway. OSA surgery has oftentimes been researched based on the outcomes of single-institutional facilities. We retrospectively analyzed a multi-institutional national database to investigate the outcomes of OSA surgery and identify risk factors for complications. Methods: We reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2008−2020) to identify patients who underwent OSA surgery. The postoperative outcomes of interest included 30-day surgical and medical complications, reoperation, readmission, and mortality. Additionally, we assessed risk-associated factors for complications, including comorbidities and preoperative blood values. Results: The study population included 4662 patients. Obesity (n = 2909; 63%) and hypertension (n = 1435; 31%) were the most frequent comorbidities. While two (0.04%) deaths were reported within the 30-day postoperative period, the total complication rate was 6.3% (n = 292). Increased BMI (p = 0.01), male sex (p = 0.03), history of diabetes (p = 0.002), hypertension requiring treatment (p = 0.03), inpatient setting (p < 0.0001), and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status classification scores ≥ 4 (p < 0.0001) were identified as risk-associated factors for any postoperative complications. Increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was identified as a risk-associated factor for the occurrence of any complications (p = 0.02) and medical complications (p = 0.001). Conclusions: OSA surgery outcomes were analyzed at the national level, with complications shown to depend on AP levels, male gender, extreme BMI, and diabetes mellitus. While OSA surgery has demonstrated an overall positive safety profile, the implementation of these novel risk-associated variables into the perioperative workflow may further enhance patient care.

An Overview of Commonly Used Data Sources in Observational Research in Anesthesia

Anesthesia research using existing databases has drastically expanded over the last decade. The most commonly used data sources in multi-institutional observational research are administrative databases and clinical registries. These databases are powerful tools to address research questions that are difficult to answer with smaller samples or single-institution information. Given that observational database research has established itself as valuable field in anesthesiology, we systematically reviewed publications in 3 high-impact North American anesthesia journals in the past 5 years with the goal to characterize its scope. We identified a wide range of data sources used for anesthesia-related research. Research topics ranged widely spanning questions regarding optimal anesthesia type and analgesic protocols to outcomes and cost of care both on a national and a local level. Researchers should choose their data sources based on various factors such as the population encompassed by the database, ability of the data to adequately address the research question, budget, acceptable limitations, available data analytics resources, and pipeline of follow-up studies.

Patient Selection for Adult Ambulatory Surgery: A Narrative Review

With migration of medically complex patients undergoing more extensive surgical procedures to the ambulatory setting, selecting the appropriate patient is vital. Patient selection can impact patient safety, efficiency, and reportable outcomes at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Identifying suitability for ambulatory surgery is a dynamic process that depends on a complex interplay between the surgical procedure, patient characteristics, and the expected anesthetic technique (eg, sedation/analgesia, local/regional anesthesia, or general anesthesia). In addition, the type of ambulatory setting (ie, short-stay facilities, hospital-based ambulatory center, freestanding ambulatory center, and office-based surgery) and social factors, such as availability of a responsible individual to take care of the patient at home, can also influence patient selection. The purpose of this review is to present current best evidence that would provide guidance to the ambulatory anesthesiologist in making an informed decision regarding patient selection for surgical procedures in freestanding ambulatory facilities.