An Evidence-Based Checklist for the Postoperative Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can present significant challenges in providing postoperative care. OSA policies have been developed and are in place within many facilities; however; a standard OSA protocol ensuring the safe delivery of postoperative care has not been universally accepted into practice. A synthesis of current OSA literature led to the development of a comprehensive evidence-based checklist to improve patient safety and direct the management of postoperative care for diagnosed or suspected OSA patients throughout their hospitalization. The checklist describes interventions for providing care in the immediate postoperative phase and sleep-specific interventions. These interventions include guidelines for postoperative assessment, continuous monitoring, extubation readiness, pain management, sleep positioning, respiratory monitoring, and continuous positive airway pressure therapy. The implementation of this checklist with the synergistic effect of the combined interventions may lead to a greater improvement in the care, safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes of OSA patients.