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Counseling points for Patients with Obstructive Sleep
Apnea (OSA) to Discuss with their Providers
1. Should I bring my continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) with me to surgery?
• Depending on the type, extent of your surgery, and if you will be staying
overnight in the hospital, your surgeon may or may not have you wear
your CPAP. To be prepared, you should bring your CPAP with you, but
understand that you may not use it immediately after surgery.
2. When should I resume using my CPAP?
• When to resume using your CPAP depends on the type and extent of
your surgery. Because this decision is individualized, you should ask your
care provider about the appropriate timing to resuming your CPAP use.
3. If I can't use my CPAP, what are my choices?
• You may be able to continue using your CPAP but with a different mask.
But, other treatment options range from avoiding sleeping on your
back (using various barrier devices) and sleeping with the head of the
bed elevated, if possible. Other treatment options may include using a
mouth-piece designed to thrust the lower jaw forward or an implanted
stimulator. These latter options will often need several months to
coordinate care and will need to be planned accordingly, and your sleep
medicine care provider may discuss the appropriateness of these options
with you. While some patients may use oxygen alone, this may not be
appropriate for most patients with sleep apnea.
4. Will my surgery help me with my sleep apnea?
• There is a possibility that the severity of your sleep apnea may improve
slightly and the required pressure on your CPAP may be reduced, but
this is not consistently the case.
