Stop-bang questionnaire as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnoea in the surgical population: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a type of sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of partial and complete pharyngeal collapse causing a reduction or total cessation of airflow during sleep. Undiagnosed, it increases the intraoperative and postoperative complications. This study aimed to screen patients undergoing surgical procedures for OSA using a validated self-report STOP-Bang questionnaire. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital between June and November 2021 and included 174 patients posted for elective surgery. A modified STOP-Bang questionnaire was used to evaluate participants for OSA. Documentation also included the difficulty in mask holding, number of attempts at laryngoscopy and intubation, the type and size of the endotracheal tube, and attempts to place a supraglottic airway device. Results: The prevalence of self-reported OSA was 5.2% (n=9) among the 174 participants included in this study. Among the patients (n=98) who underwent general anaesthesia 32 had difficult airways, among which 20 (62.5%) had a predictor of difficult airway and two had OSA. One among the 2 OSA patients had other predictors of difficult airway. No statistical significance was observed between OSA and the difficult airway (p=0.723). However, a clinically significant association was seen for difficult mask holding for patients with OSA but having no other predictors of difficult airway. Conclusion: Using the STOP-Bang questionnaire to screen OSA in patients undergoing general anaesthesia or sedation can help the anaesthesiologist manage difficult airways more effectively.