Bellizzi Mario Giuseppe, Pace Annalisa, Iannella Giannicola, Maniaci Antonino, Paternò Daniele Salvatore, Tutino Simona, Sorbello Massimiliano, Ronsivalle Salvatore Maria, Magliulo Giuseppe, Greco Antonio, De Virgilio Armando, Mancini Patrizia, Croce Enrica, Molinari Giulia, Lucidi Daniela, Lechien Jerome R, Moffa Antonio, Caranti Alberto, La Via Luigi
Department of 'Organi di Senso', University "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università 33, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna "Kore", 94100 Enna, Italy.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jul 26;13(15):1823. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13151823.
: Airway management in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents unique challenges for anesthesiologists and other airway practitioners. This comprehensive review examines current evidence and clinical practices for managing difficult airways in this high-risk population. OSA is characterized by specific anatomical and physiological alterations that increase both the likelihood of encountering difficult intubation and the risk of rapid desaturation during airway manipulation. : Preoperative assessment of OSA patients requires integration of traditional difficult airway evaluation with OSA-specific considerations, including severity indices, oxygen desaturation patterns, and continuous positive airway pressure dependency. Conventional direct laryngoscopy often proves inadequate in these patients, prompting the development and refinement of alternative approaches. Videolaryngoscopy has emerged as a particularly valuable technique in OSA patients, offering improved glottic visualization while maintaining physiologic positioning. Flexible endoscopic techniques, particularly awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation, remain essential for high-risk scenarios, though they require considerable expertise. : Recent technological innovations have produced hybrid devices combining multiple modalities to address the specific challenges presented by OSA patients. Adjunctive tools and techniques, including specialized introducers, exchange catheters, and high-flow nasal oxygen, play critical roles in extending safe apnea time and facilitating successful intubation. Professional society guidelines now incorporate OSA-specific recommendations, emphasizing thorough preparation, appropriate device selection, and comprehensive monitoring. : Effective management ultimately requires not only appropriate technology but also systematic preparation, strategic device selection, and meticulous execution. As OSA prevalence continues to rise globally, optimizing airway management approaches for this challenging population remains a critical priority for patient safety.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(OSA)患者的气道管理对麻醉医生和其他气道从业者提出了独特的挑战。这篇综述探讨了在这一高风险人群中处理困难气道的现有证据和临床实践。OSA的特征在于特定的解剖和生理改变,这增加了遇到困难插管的可能性以及气道操作期间快速去饱和的风险。
对OSA患者的术前评估需要将传统的困难气道评估与OSA特定的考虑因素相结合,包括严重程度指数、氧去饱和模式和持续气道正压依赖。在这些患者中,传统的直接喉镜检查往往证明是不够的,这促使了替代方法的发展和完善。视频喉镜检查已成为OSA患者中一种特别有价值的技术,在保持生理体位的同时提供了更好的声门可视化。灵活的内镜技术,特别是清醒状态下的灵活支气管镜插管,对于高风险情况仍然至关重要,尽管它们需要相当多的专业知识。
最近的技术创新产生了结合多种模式的混合设备,以应对OSA患者提出的特定挑战。辅助工具和技术,包括专门的导引器、交换导管和高流量鼻导管吸氧,在延长安全无呼吸时间和促进成功插管方面发挥着关键作用。专业协会指南现在纳入了OSA特定的建议,强调充分准备、适当的设备选择和全面监测。
有效的管理最终不仅需要合适的技术,还需要系统的准备、策略性的设备选择和细致的执行。随着全球OSA患病率持续上升,为这一具有挑战性的人群优化气道管理方法仍然是保障患者安全的关键优先事项。
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