Comparative aspects of the airway during general anesthesia in obese sufferers of sleep apnea and matched normals.

This study involved subjective evaluation of airway patency, linear measurement of orocraniofacial architecture, and blood pressure measurement in 38 obese sufferers of sleep apnea and 38 matched controls. The study demonstrated that airway management in the sleep apnea group was difficult on both induction and emergence from general anesthesia. Moreover, a smaller, compressed oropharynx was observed in the sleep apnea group. In addition, patients with sleep apnea were characteristically hypertensive. More nursing research is needed to enhance understanding of patients afflicted with sleep apnea and to improve their life quality.