Routine preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening of elective surgical patients: a single-centre three-month experience

ICU = intensive care unit; OR = operating room; OSA = obstructive sleep apnea; PACU = postanesthesia care unit; PAP = positive airway pressure treatment; UBCH = University of British Columbia Hospital; VGH = Vancouver General Hospital. *Not all study patients came to the PACU postoperatively. Potential reasons for this include bypassing the PACU on account of a procedure only under sedation, direct admission to the ICU, or cardiac surgery ICU from the OR, having a procedure out of the main OR such as in radiology or the cardiac catheterization laboratory, or the patient may not have come to surgery despite prior anesthesia consultation. †Complication data collected at both VGH and UBCH sites routinely by the PACU nurses. ‡Complication data collected only at VGH site (a site of higher acuity care) routinely by PACU RNs. §Monitored bed refers to a minimum of continuous pulse oximetry monitoring and immediate nursing intervention if readings are low. Includes high acuity, step down, and critical care units. Data here represent monitoring ordered as a result of patient’s stay in the PACU. This does not represent monitored beds ordered in advance of surgery.