Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that severely complicates the lives of those who suffer from the disease.  Just getting a proper diagnosis and finding a method of treatment that is effective and can be tolerated by the patient is difficult as well.  While CPAP is the first therapy prescribed to patients, over half cannot tolerate sleeping with the masks, tubing and machines.

Untreated OSA is linked to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and weight gain. We can now add another problem to this list: an increased risk for pulmonary complications following surgery.

Dr. Stavros Memtsoudis and his team at Cornell University reported findings in the January 2011 issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia.  The researcher stated “Using a large nationally representative database, we identified sleep apnea as a risk factor for a number of pulmonary complications after orthopedic and general surgical procedures, thus providing a basis for an increase in the utilization of resources, including intensive monitoring and development of stragegies to prevent and treat these events.”

The research team added “Findings from this analysis may be used to design research projects to elucidate the mechanism and design interventions to reduce the risk of pulmonary complications among patients with sleep apnea undergoing surgery.”

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may want to invest in a medical alert bracelet or necklace that will alert anyone giving them medical treatment to their sleep apnea.

If you are unhappy with your current sleep apnea treatment such as CPAP there is an alternative therapy that is approved for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.  Oral appliance therapy is safe, comfortable and effective. To find out more about oral appliance therapy options in the Columbus, Ohio area please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 to arrange a consultation.