Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening Among Surgical Patients: A Quality Improvement Project

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of respiratory depression in surgical patients. This project screened patients for OSA and explored its relationship with respiratory complications. Design: Quality improvement project. Methods: Neurosurgical patients were preoperatively screened using STOP-Bang questionnaire scores of 5 or greater as high risk and less than 5 as low risk for moderate-to-severe OSA. Postoperative respiratory complications were compared between both OSA groups. Perioperative staff and patient education included an OSA care protocol using STOP-Bang screening. Findings: Of the 161 patients screened, 29.8% scored high risk for OSA, noting elevated end tidal CO2, increased oxygen desaturation, and required pulse oximetry with supplemental oxygen compared with the low-risk group (P < .05). Education improved nurses' awareness of OSA risks by 81%, and 87.5% of patients were satisfied with the OSA care protocol. Conclusions: The OSA care protocol decreased risk for postoperative respiratory complications. Education is essential for safer perioperative outcomes.