Same-day discharge for selected patients undergoing combined nasal and palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea

To determine the safety of same-day discharge for patients who undergo combined nasal and palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, we undertook a retrospective review and analysis of 2 groups of patients (total, 86 patients) who underwent such surgery. The patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who underwent combined nasal and palatal surgery were considered for same-day discharge if they fulfilled the following postoperative criteria: sustained O2 saturation of 94% or greater on room air while asleep, no history of cardiopulmonary disease or diabetes mellitus, adequate oral analgesia and oral intake, hemostasis, and normal vital signs. Twenty-three patients met these criteria and were assigned to group 1. The remaining 63 patients were admitted overnight for monitoring and were assigned to group 2. The data collected included patient demographics, respiratory disturbance index, lowest O2 saturation, body mass index, and postoperative complications. The mean age, respiratory disturbance index, lowest O2 saturation, and body mass index for group 1 were 45.9 years, 36 events per hour, 84.9%, and 28.7 kg/m2, respectively. For group 2, the results were 48 years, 36.5 events per hour, 82%, and 32.5 kg/m2. There were no postoperative complications in group 1, and 3 in group 2. There were no incidents of airway compromise or cardiopulmonary events in the immediate postoperative period in either group. There were no readmissions for either group. We conclude that same-day discharge for patients who have undergone combined nasal and palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is relatively safe in selected cases in which significant comorbid diseases are not present. These selected cases would have constituted a minority of the patients studied.