Benefits of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Device. What is the Evidence for Peri-Operative CPAP Use?
Compared to patients without sleep apnea, undiagnosed sleep apnea had 2 times higher risk for developing cardiac complication. Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and received a prescription of CPAP had a reduced risk for cardiovascular complications, compared to patients whose sleep apnea was not diagnosed.13
A second study also found that patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and not using CPAP therapy have increased risk for developing heart and lung complications compared to sleep apnea patients who use CPAP.14
Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and treated with CPAP therapy had significantly shorter stays in the hospital and better oxygen uptake in the body than sleep apnea patients without CPAP therapy.15
When CPAP treatment was administered to surgical patients newly diagnosed with moderate and severe sleep apnea, the treatment improved oxygen uptake in the body in the postoperative period.16
Patients who were newly diagnosed with sleep apnea in the preoperative clinics and were referred to receive their CPAP therapy showed improvement on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and snoring. In these patients, compliance to CPAP reduce the use of medication for their blood pressure and diabetes.17
Patients at High Risk for Sleep Apnea 