Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The patient with untreated, obstructive sleep apnea may present difficult or potentially life-threatening challenges to the surgical team. This is true even if the anticipated surgery is remote to the upper airway. Preoperative recognition of the obstructive apnea is essential as the first step in preventing potential complications. When recognized, intraoperative and postoperative initiative can result in a satisfactory outcome.