Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is a serious safety issue for surgical patients. Now, there is a new, anesthesia-based test for the disorder, which has the potential to facilitate rapid sleep apnea diagnosis and save lives, according to new research published in Analgesia & Anesthesia.
Two University of Pennsylvania researchers, Joshua H. Atkins, MD, PhD, and Jeff E. Mandel, MD, MS, have developed an algorithm-controlled drug-induced sleep endoscopy method, in which anesthesia professionals are able to induce moderate obstruction in the sleep apnea patient to show the anatomy causing the obstruction in four minutes or less.
While DISE isn't an original technique for diagnosing sleep apnea, unique to this method is the algorithm, with which providers calculate the exact dosage of anesthesia required to adequately sedate a patient for the test. This is a more exact and efficient approach than the traditional stepwise dosage, according to a report from Medical Xpress. With such precise anesthesia doses, patients' blood oxygenation levels barely drop. In addition, no expertise is required to administer the test.
The researchers hope this simplified approach to sleep apnea diagnosis could make the technique more widely practiced. In turn, this may increase sleep apnea diagnoses, helping providers treat those with sleep apnea and preventing surgical complications from undiagnosed sleep apnea and anesthesia.
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Two University of Pennsylvania researchers, Joshua H. Atkins, MD, PhD, and Jeff E. Mandel, MD, MS, have developed an algorithm-controlled drug-induced sleep endoscopy method, in which anesthesia professionals are able to induce moderate obstruction in the sleep apnea patient to show the anatomy causing the obstruction in four minutes or less.
While DISE isn't an original technique for diagnosing sleep apnea, unique to this method is the algorithm, with which providers calculate the exact dosage of anesthesia required to adequately sedate a patient for the test. This is a more exact and efficient approach than the traditional stepwise dosage, according to a report from Medical Xpress. With such precise anesthesia doses, patients' blood oxygenation levels barely drop. In addition, no expertise is required to administer the test.
The researchers hope this simplified approach to sleep apnea diagnosis could make the technique more widely practiced. In turn, this may increase sleep apnea diagnoses, helping providers treat those with sleep apnea and preventing surgical complications from undiagnosed sleep apnea and anesthesia.
More Articles on Anesthesia:
18 Sheridan anesthesiologists to serve on Florida Society of Anesthesiology's board of directors
Inova Comprehensive Cancer and Research Institute recognizes FOAA Anesthesia
ASA affiliates receive American Society of Association Executives' Power of A Award