According to the report on sleep medicine and anesthesia, published in Anesthesiology, sleep apnea is associated with substantial morbidity and increased risk of postoperative complications. Studies have shown an association between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and metabolic syndrome.
Sleep medicine and anesthesiology both deal with significant changes in autonomic control associated with the loss of waking consciousness, according to the report. The members of SASM encourage anesthesiologists to embrace the role of a perioperative sleep physician.
SASM is organizing another pre-convention conference on Oct. 14, 2011 at the American Society of Anesthesiologists meeting in Chicago. Anyone who wishes to join the Society or attend the annual meeting is invited to contact its secretary, Norman Bolden, MD, at nbolden@metrohealth.org.
Access the pdf of the article published on SASM in Anesthesiology.
Read more on anesthesia:
–ASA Provides Information on Radiation Exposure Relief Efforts in Japan
