Study shows that few children are screened for sleep apnea prior to surgery

Only 31 percent of children were screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by an anesthesia provider prior to ambulatory surgery, according to a study in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. The study also found that patients with undiagnosed OSA, who would benefit the most from screening, were the least likely to be screened. According to the authors, the results suggest that anesthesia providers should be educated on the importance of screening children for symptoms of OSA, a chronic disease that increases the risk of perioperative complications.

Read the study in JCSM: Screening for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea before Ambulatory Surgery